Comments about ‘Muslim modesty: Head coverings a symbol of faith or oppression?’

I appreciate that the author presents views from Muslim women, who are most directly impacted by this issue. In France, where I served a Mormon mission, long-established government policies of "lacit" have led to a society where any clothing or ornamentation that suggests a religious affiliation is discouraged and often prohibited. It's out of the question for Muslim women working in the public sector to cover their heads. Many female Muslim pupils are not allowed to cover their heads at school as they feel they should. And some women have been turned away at banks or post offices because of their headscarves.

In the United States, we have explicit constitutional guarantees of religious freedom that generally allow us to live according to our personal interpretation of our religious beliefs. For Muslim women, this usually means that they are allowed to wear a hijab if they so desire. There have been cases where this right has been challenged, but almost always judges have ruled on the side of the Muslims.

I much prefer the American approach to the French one. Let these women exercise their constitutional right to practice their religion as they see fit.

The Muslim headscarves are a beautiful testament of faith, female modesty, and humility before God -- just as the Latter-day Saint Temple Garments are for followers of the True Church.

It is nothing but a symbol of a greater oppression for muslim women. It is no secret that Muslim females are treated as second class citizens by the muslim faith. There is a resounding silence when the issue being raised is female genital mutilation, honor killings, forced marriages, the unequal application of hadd punishments on women, or the denial of education to girls and women. All of these wrongs are perpetrated on women in the name of Islam. While it is true that many of these violations occur across cultural and religious boundaries, the only action often taken by conservative Muslims is a condemnation of the action because it is "cultural" and not Islamic. Meanwhile, women continue to be murdered and little girls continue to be mutilated.

I am sorry, but-------not being a Mormon or of the Islamic faith, I cannot for one minute think that the birka or other coverings has anything at all to do with modesty. If that were true, why don't the men wear similar trappings? Or, aren't they ever tempted to stray? Yeah, right! And, I don't care what Muslim tradition tells you about women being free, yada yada yada, one has only to look at Muslim societies worldwide and see that this is an absolute falsehood. When you can't even drive a vehicle in many places...........free? I don't think so. I think that is leftover from a time when men had complete control over women, and by darn, they are not about to give that sexist dominance up. Wake up ladies!

Why do only girls and woman need to cover their heads. The hair and neck of boys and men are practically identical. I'll never understand the strangle-hold the Muslim religion has on billions of people. It controls their lives. It is lesson for all the other billions on earth to value and fight for their freedom of thought and expression.

Personally I think it is silly to have to wear the head coverings ALL the time. In the Olympics there was a young gal that ran track and field whom wore the head covering. It was cool that she was that dedicated to her faith, but I believe the only reason they wear them is to stand out in the crowd, to draw attention and to be different by following traditions. Why should woman have to cover every inch of their bodies? There is a difference between being modest and wearing to much clothing. I have read part of the Koran, which I find odd and strang. It talks about what a man should do to his wife if she does not obey. Beat her over the back with a stick.... What is that all about? Maybe the reason they wear the coverings is to hide the bruises and wounds they suffer from their husbands. Is this really faith or tradition?....

No doubt there are Muslim women who deliberately choose for their way to dress and are happy with it. But in the vast majority of cases it is being forced on them by male tyranny, by fathers and brothers, and is the most visible sign of their subjection. I've lived for years in Europe. Principals and teachers in schools there know what these girls often endure. To defend their "tradition" out of respect is a way to continue their exploitation.

If they want to do it, that's fine. Why does a woman wear a low cut dress, stilletto heels and a miniskirt. To stand out.

If they dress the same way in their country where everyone does the same, then they aren't doing it to stand out.

The hair of a man is the same, but why is it OK for a man to show his chest on the beach, but not a woman. Our culture has assigned a meaning to a woman's chest that is not assigned to a man. There is no logical reason other than it is our culture. The same applies to them.

The only thing that I object to is that they should not cover their face when they drive and their photo id should show their face and they should provide a photo id just like everyone else. Sometimes the face needs to be shown.

It is cultural diversity. I don't believe in the Quran, but I'll respect and support that they want to do that.

Tekakaromatagi

Many religious traditions have aspects that guide what followers do. In the LDS tradition what a person wears is also a strong part of day to day obedience. The key in my mind is free will. There will always be a certain level of guilt from family or other members of the religion to do certain things but there should NEVER be actual force to do or wear anything within a culture. If a muslim woman CHOOSES to cover herself then that is great - in the same way LDS or Jewish women and men wear and do certain things within their cultures. But as a society we must stand up against forced religious behaviors.

I'm grateful that Muslim women in America who choose to wear the hijab are generally allowed to do so. Those of us who are Mormon should have an appreciation for the value of respecting religious practices that we do not personally understand. Our constitutionally guaranteed rights to exercise our religious beliefs are part of what makes America great. In France, where I was a Mormon missionary, Muslim women are routinely discriminated against for no better reason than that they're wearing a scarf on their head. I hope Americans will not be so intolerant. This is an important practice to these people and it need not prevent us from doing business or making friends with them.

"Society wants women to have shiny hair, to be thin and have nice skin," she said. "You see teen girls bingeing and throwing up food, suffering from self-esteem issues and I always wonder how that is not a form of oppression."

Spot-on TRUE!

I think there is a ONE HUGE difference between the oppression of Islamic women and the oppression of American women: one is done by men, the other by women.

In Islam, it seems, the oppression comes from the men. In the U.S., the oppression comes from other women.

My wife is somewhat overweight. This is not a problem for me; she looks attractive in her clothes, and has received compliments for her looks by other men. It is how the other WOMEN look at and treat her that is the issue. An entire thesis could be written on this point, but we are limited to only 200 words...

Bottom line: it is okay for women to oppress other women, so it's not an issue (in the news and such). In fact, NEITHER kind of oppression is okay -- we just hear about one while the other is ignored!

Clearly it is easy to misunderstand a part of another culture to which we do not relate. However in America one has the RIGHT to practice one's religion. Please do not be harsh with another doing what is part of his or her religion. Many religions of the world have dress that separates them "from the world", Catholic priests, nuns, Jewish, Amish, LDS, Muslim just start the list. Culture includes dress, Samoans, Tongans, Japanese, Hawiians come to mind. Americans and most Europeans express identity through individual dress. Allow religious dress to be expressions of individuals who honor it. Peace to all.

All I can say is, thanks for dressing modestly. It shows respect for your body and your beliefs.

I would suggest that the Savior said it best when he counseled his followers to set themselves apart by their actions, not by their style of dress. I would suggest that our actions will always speak louder than our words or our style of dress. The counsel to love our neighbors is still in force and to serve with love and to accept differences in our world, but to always make sure that if we call ourselves followers of Christ that people will know we are by the daily life we lead. The world has a style of wearing a cross around their neck and that is their way of letting people know they believe and are followers of Christ. I respect their right to wear the cross, but again to follow Christ will always be more than the wearing of a cross, it will be in the way we live our lives. A muslim woman may make a statement in her dress but that is as far as it goes, a true belief will always stand out in a crowd by their actions,not just by their dress.

I am with the 1:02 commentator.
I think this is a very good article. The notion that women are "forced" to wear the hijab, and that it restricts their freedom is over-much. People who choose to follow rules do so of their own free will and choice, not because they are forced to.
Whether the hijab is a worthwhile thing, I am not sure. However, if a women choses to wear it, she should not be discriminated against for doing so. These women are not oppressed, the only oppressors are the French government who will not allow them to practice their religion.

men will suppress women ... women have been, and often still are, treated as mere property ... when i was in saudi arabia for a blessedly short time, i was often told that women were "dirty" and "disgusting" ... men do this because they are afraid of the power of women ... that is why it is so sad when women themselves buy into the oppressions of religion and society..

Maryam made a great point about how American women are oppressed. There is discrimination right and left based on not fitting the "attractive" ideal in this country. Thing is, the worst pressure for going under the knife, improper nutrition, excess exercise and spending vast sums on "miracles" comes from a girl's/woman's peers. In our individual failure to measure up and our own efforts to fit the ideal we start critiquing and criticising others who don't seem to be putting forth enough effort.

It's sickening.

If a student was sent home from school for wearing a t-shirt with a Bible reference, there would be a public outcry over freedom of speech and expression.

How is this any different?

I do agree that there are times when one's face needs to be visible, for the safety of being able to identify people, should a crime or other infraction of the law occur.

But the covering of the hair doesn't affect anyone else at all.

Stop justifying bad behavior by pointing to other bad behavior.
If women are oppressed in Western cultures by fads/styles/looks/etc. -- it is wrong. That doesn't make the oppression of women in Islamic cultures any less wrong. You won't even address the issues of female circumcision, forced marriages, honor killings, et. al.
Why so silent? I thought you 'cared' so much about these women, their welfare, their rights.
Or do you care most about *appearing* tolerant, non-judgmental, enlightened.
(To say every woman wearing the covering is doing it of their own volition is the height of sanctimonious conceit. How in the world do you know. Most of us are at least willing to admit some have free will and some do not.)

...and while we're on the subject of comparing religious/cultural suppressions --

ever seen the faces of Afghani girls who've had acid thrown in their face for daring to defy the Taliban clerics and attend school?

Oh, I'm sorry, am I offending your self-loathing liberal Western sensibilities.