Persecuting headgear

[ddstory]

What's a burqa, and does it have a place in our place? That's the question that a number of European societies have been pondering about for some time. In Germany for example, some province ministers of the interior have decided to ban the controversial headgear as part of the measures to counter Islamic radicalization. Other countries already have

Comments

[nairiporter]

We here speak of social norms being imprinted into women's mentality from early age, confining them to a narrow set of rules beyond which they cannot escape, unless they should risk being ostracised - and then those women believing they are making choices freely, while actually being confined within those social frames. Muslim women and headgear being the example...

But what about the so called Western women and all those social norms that they are being confined to? Be smart, beautiful and attractive and kind, behave confidently, be successful at work, look after the kids and create an impression of a coherent family - and if she doesn't, she becomes labeled an outsider, hippie, loser. I have seen this with the young kids I work with at school - they are supposed to have good looks, be dominant alphas among their peers, possess the newest clothes and gadgets, lest someone decide they are poor good-for-nothings, and kick them out of the "gang". In which case they are doomed to be forever on the losing side.

If people in our societies believe social oppression could be battled or mitigated by forceful laws banning people from certain arbitrarily defined "undesirable" behaviour, looks and clothes, then they are really as superficial as they look, and they've deserved all the problems and turmoil stemming from the social marginalisation of entire groups of people.

[wight1984]

I was talking (via facebook) to a French woman who supported the Burqa ban.

She wanted to stop women being socialised into oppressive lifestyles by banning the Burqa.

I did suggest that this was akin to banning make-up, cosmetic surgery, and pornography in order to combat western oppression of women... but she just agreed that those things should be banned.

French liberalism and secularism has gone down a strange route.

[johnny9fingers]

I did suggest that this was akin to banning make-up, cosmetic surgery, and pornography in order to combat western oppression of women... but she just agreed that those things should be banned.

Pretty much standard second-wave feminism. Not quite S.C.U.M. nor separatist, as many second wave feminists were, but still fairly mainstream thought for the times and the movement. This sort of thinking was prevalent in feminist circles until the '90's, and still provokes spats in the community. Get second wavers on to the topic of transgenderism and you won't believe the obloquy. It's quite terrifying.

[garote]

Agreed that it lasted until about the 90's, as far as I could tell on the West coast of the United States. Then it crashed into almost nothing in a brief window, as the generation raised by 60's-era parents got pushed aside by the generation raised by 70's/80's-era parents. :D

Interesting to see it still going strong in other parts of the world, apparently...

[ddstory]

Obviously, your interaction with that woman proves everything.

Whatever "everything" might be.

[wight1984]

Thank you... and I should say that your reply has completely refuted everything I've ever said.

Snarky livejournal comments are clearly the mutually agreeable solution that we've all been grasping for.

[ddstory]

Yes, especially when they tell truths - the worthlessness of anecdotal "evidence" being the point here.

[johnny9fingers]

Noted.

[wight1984]

Had I presented it as some kind of proof, then you might have a point.

[garote]

Wow, you too a whole lot of abuse under this post and never lost your cool. If only I could follow that example. :D

[ddstory]

Servility is unattractive.

[garote]

Are you here to flirt with people??

[ddstory]

I could ask you the same question.

[garote]

Well, pick the answer that's most comfortable for you.

[ddstory]

You as well.

[htpcl]

I'd say the social-warrior schtick has gone down strange routes.