Dressing for success

[pozorvlak]

I was reading in a climbing magazine last night that there's a thriving women's ice-climbing and mountaineering scene in Iran, and even an annual Iranian women's ice-climbing contest. I couldn't find anything on the net about the contest, but I did find this story on the Alpine Club of Iran's website, suggesting that female mountaineering is indeed

Comments

[steerpikelet]

Neeeeeil!
Dude, I thought you'd disappeared from the internet! how are you? xx

[wormwood_pearl]

Islamic dress codes vary a lot, but generally all the skin apart from the face and hands needs to be covered, along with the hair, and the general shape of the body has to be disguised. The number of layers one usually wears for winter mountaineering would achieve this quite well. And niquabis could cover their faces up with a balaclava :)

[necaris]

+1 true ;-)

[steerpikelet]

Well - with the caveat of extreme cultural difference and anecdata - I don't swim because I'm worried about people looking at my body. I can understand the mindset.

[pozorvlak]

Not sure I follow you. But yes, it's great that there's a sport suitable for those unwilling or unable to show their bodies. If only it were less expensive and dangerous than ice climbing :-(

[dynix]

Had this problem, but needed to learn to swim for diving. Ended up swimming in essentially a diving undersuit - was actually after a victorian bathing costume but they're impossible to find.

Do get some funny looks when I tell people that communal showers (same-sex be damned) are way too public.

[pozorvlak]

You didn't fancy a burkini, then? :-)

BTW, your take on the whole Islamic dress thing (and the Iranian women's mountaineering thing) would be much appreciated, if you feel like sharing it.

[elvum]

I hope that pun was deliberate.

[pozorvlak]

Er, which pun?

[johnckirk]

I'm guessing the bit about ice climbing being cool, although there may be a more subtle pun involving technical terminology that I'm not aware of.

As for your original question, I basically agree with you: if people can enjoy a sport without having to compromise their personal beliefs then that's great, but if it's "risk death or do nothing" then that kind of sucks.

[pozorvlak]

I also think it's bleakly amusing that a system which (arguably?) oppresses women has led to their success in a traditionally male-dominated sport.