Chador
Posted by: Deane F on 19 October 2005
A friend and I were out walking in Christchurch yesterday when a woman walked past us in the opposite direction wearing a black chador over a colourful set of clothing. I saw her when she was maybe thirty yards away. At first I was a little intimidated - or perhaps not "intimidated" so much as feeling a sense of dislocation and the feeling that I needed to make a decision. It was a strange feeling, anyway. So I decided that I ought to accord her the respect of not looking directly at her as my (female) friend and I walked past. It seemed the right thing to do at the time.
I was brought up by a feminist and I hate the subjugation of woman in society. I found the entire experience mildly challenging and I am still thinking about it.
Posted on: 19 October 2005 by Roy T
Is the wearing a Chador and expression of religious belief or a symbol of subjugation? Ask the lady next time you meet her in the street that way you will get an answer that is well worth considering.
Posted on: 19 October 2005 by Deane F
Roy
I wouldn't have the balls.
Would you?
Deane
Posted on: 19 October 2005 by Deane F
I think that if I really need to know I'll get me to a Mosque. My reflections have been more directed at my own feelings about my "place" in society.
Posted on: 19 October 2005 by JonR
On the (packed, as usual) train home from work on Friday night I found myself standing next to a Muslim bloke...with a rucksack.
So, then, I had that thought...
Naturally I berated myself for even daring to suspect he was a suicide-bomber, but there was this girl sitting down right next to where I was standing, and she was shouting a conversation into her mobile phone.
My next thought was...if it all ends here then at least there's an upside - I won't have to hear that girl's irritating bloody voice ever again!
Posted on: 20 October 2005 by Paul Ranson
If it were merely an expression of religious belief then there would be no expectation that non-Muslim women would cover up in some notionally Muslim countries.
Paul
Posted on: 20 October 2005 by Steve Toy
Wearing a chador as an expression of religious belief is also an expression of accepting subjugation. Just stop and consider why the more fundamentalist versions of Islam expect women to wear them in the first place. Religious belief isn't simply about observing traditions, it's about accepting its teachings, rules, and the reasons behind them.
Of course I'd expect the women to get a bit defensive upon being faced with the obvious accusation that she's betraying the rights of women. The question to ask her would be,
"What would happen to you if you went out not wearing your chador?"
Posted on: 20 October 2005 by 7V
Are we 100% sure that no emancipated Muslim woman could choose to wear such a garment in order to avoid being ogled by men?
Telling a woman whether or not she should wear a chador is an affront to the emancipation of women.
Steve
Posted on: 20 October 2005 by Steve Toy
Telling would be an affront, asking what if/why? wouldn't be.
quote:
Are we 100% sure that no emancipated Muslim woman could choose to wear such a garment in order to avoid being ogled by men?
That could be used as an excuse. A woman would not
choose to cover up her face just to stop being ogled. People only usually cover up their faces when they've got something to hide - like the fact that they are about to commit a robbery.
Posted on: 20 October 2005 by 7V
This is also an interesting discussion on the same subject from my favourite blog -
Harry's PlacePosted on: 20 October 2005 by Deane F
I have seen quite a few women in chador - particularly in Christchurch - and I am not as affected by the sight as I am of the odd couple I see where the woman is walking ten paces behind the man. That really makes me angry - but I cannot put my finger on just why this is so.
Posted on: 20 October 2005 by Roy T
quote:
I was brought up by a feminist and I hate the subjugation of woman in society.
I wonder if the values gathered whilst being brought up by a feminist do not come with their own built in prejudices?
It is sometimes hard work to feel at ease with the norms of another society or group but as long as societies function without breaking the law then all should be well.
Live and let live.
Posted on: 20 October 2005 by JeremyD
quote:
Originally posted by Roy T:
Is the wearing a Chador and expression of religious belief or a symbol of subjugation? Ask the lady next time you meet her in the street that way you will get an answer that is well worth considering.
If the lady in question does see it as a symbol of subjugation then she's not necessarily going to admit it.
I'll never forget the day when I was walking through town and realised that two schoolgirls were looking at me worriedly. When I looked in their direction, they quickly put their headscarves back on and hurried off. I was puzzled for a few moments, then I realised they must have feared I was a Muslim who might report them to their families. A symbol of subjugation? For those poor girls I'd think the answer was obviously yes...
Posted on: 20 October 2005 by Deane F
quote:
Originally posted by Roy T:
I wonder if the values gathered whilst being brought up by a feminist do not come with their own built in prejudices?
Very good point - and I find those prejudices the hardest to detect - and change if necessary. I find that I can go through life mistaking these prejudices for values and these ones are the most dangerous.
