Whilst lying in bed on Tuesday morning, 666 radio (not as metal as it sounds for those outside Canberra) had a debate on the issue raised by this column, which made for some interesting bedroom discussion.Being neither a) a woman, or b) Muslim, I’m not in an ideal place to form a concise opinion on this.
Some of you reading this, however, are, and I’d like to see what other people think.
Whilst I think Virginia’s motives are in a somewhat correct place re: feminism and the lack of in some religions and cultures, but her execution is perhaps a little askew. In essence, I think this could be compared to the pro-choice debate.
If a woman chooses to wear/not wear the Burka, that’s her choice (be it religious or otherwise). Same with an abortion. If a woman is forced to wear the Burka by an overbearing partner, then it’s not her choice, however, if a woman is forced into an abortion by an overbearing partner, would you argue that abortion should be banned because of this?
I don’t believe Virginia is intentionally fearmongering against Islam, but she’s certainly not making a good case for racial tolerance either.
Ugh, what a twat.
I mean, I get what she’s trying to say, but the language she uses does nothing for her case.
“The burka is not yet common here, but it’s only a matter of time.”
Fear mongering much?
“I abhor the burka, and the niqab. I hate what it does to women. I am appalled that women are separated from the world in this way. And I am furious that some women will continue to choose to wear it. But then, throughout history, feeble women who are afraid of modernity, have always been complicit in their own oppression.”
“By covering herself in a burka, a woman is relinquishing the right to express herself as a female. She is agreeing to suppress her own sexuality. “
She’s still telling women how to dress, which is part of the problem, and counter to the supposed empowerment that she seems to want to impress upon them.
I’m not even going to touch on whatever the fuck she means by “expressing herself as a female” since there isn’t really a checklist handy.
Her repeated reference to there being “no place” for the burqa in a Western society is also a bit troubling.
