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An interesting slant on the wearing of a burqa.

(465 Posts)
Sago Wed 26-Nov-25 09:28:26

I am in two minds regarding the possibility of banning the burqa.

I am concerned for the women who will not be allowed out by their “male controllers”, this will create more misery and leave women open to more potential abuse.

However there was an interesting article in the is mornings DM by Khadija Khan.

She suggests the wearing of the burqa encourages Muslim men to assume that women from other cultures are sexually available.

I had never considered this before and perhaps she has a point.

What do you think?

CariadAgain Sun 07-Dec-25 13:53:33

Very true FGT. "Play the ball and not the person" indeed. I've certainly personally witnessed people on this forum trying to chuck others off - just because they have a different personal view to their own personal view (ie the other person hadnt done anything wrong by any objective standards!).

Nannee49 Sun 07-Dec-25 13:28:50

Well said FGT

Nannee49 Sun 07-Dec-25 13:27:08

ExactlyCariadAgain it's a question of being respectful of other cultural norms if you're temporarily in that place.

I think it's worth pointing out again, given that various views on this thread have been deemed racist by some, men requiring women to cover up all or parts of their bodies is by no means exclusive to Islam or Judaism, many fervent, ultra right, white Christian sects demand the same.

I won't have any truck with such misogynistic male dictatorial views in my own space.

Allira Sun 07-Dec-25 13:21:11

Welll said!

Women and even young girls wear various head coverings for various reasons - what we need to be discussing is whether or not this is through choice or are they being controlled and coerced. without accusations of racism being made which impede discussion.

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Sun 07-Dec-25 13:11:36

I think all points of view when discussing this topic (and others) are valid. It’s called discussion/debate.

Please posters, be respectful. Play the ball not the man and let EVERYONE have their say (provided it’s in GNHQ guidelines) let’s not shut anyone down.

This type of thread generates strong feelings. It ought to be very interesting to read and encourage further posts. However if it starts to get fractious, people are put off and back off.

Let’s continue in good faith!

CariadAgain Sun 07-Dec-25 12:53:43

...and meanwhile back to the "When in Rome do as the Romans do" .....which some seem to be ignoring/skating over.

"When in Rome" meant that when I was in Turkey and wanted to have a look at a mosque/go inside it = I got handed a sort of elasticated waist skirt to put on at the door before going in (ie to hide my legs totally) and just took it and put it on. No need for a headsquare - I'd taken the precaution of putting my sarong/scarf over my head anyway just in case beforehand. I was wearing a "modest" type top anyway (as it was their country). Living/working in a house in Denmark years earlier - I'd taken one (startled!) look at the woman of the house going round in nothing sometimes and decided the best path was to go round in my bikini any time it was warm enough she wasnt wearing anything.

Point being - if you're in someone else's country and their way of dressing is different = you adapt to their way.

Our way is we're used to being able to easily recognise anyone/see what they're thinking/etc so.......

Allira Sun 07-Dec-25 12:16:06

Babs03

That is not what I meant I was talking about racist comments about Muslims being all over Leicester and in London and spreading.
But if you want to be disingenuous about something so horrid that’s up to you. I even sent a post so you could see for yourself.
As with all racists the discussion about the burka was just a platform for them to then sue their odious opinions.
Anyone who thinks this is just about liberating women in burkas must be on another planet.

If you mean you sent me a pm, please don't. I'd prefer you didn't.

I was trying to establish the difference between choice and coercion throughout the thread. It seems to be important.

If you think that is racist then yes, if that is what you are accusing me of, then it is a totally unjustified attack.

Allira Sun 07-Dec-25 12:07:24

Babs03

Like I just said I am not surprised.

Well, a sideways attack again.

Nasty and totally unjustified.
Please cease.

Nannee49 Sun 07-Dec-25 12:04:36

Well, I for one, am greatly offended by any randomer whatever sex, race, colour or creed judging my morals based on the fact that I do not dress "modestly" according to a mediaeval cultural diktat.

Babs03 Sun 07-Dec-25 12:02:45

Nasty reply there Allira.
And no I am not trying to shut down anything, am simply stating what is patently obvious.

Babs03 Sun 07-Dec-25 12:01:07

Like I just said I am not surprised.

Allira Sun 07-Dec-25 12:00:02

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

Allira Sun 07-Dec-25 11:59:08

Babs03

That is not what I meant I was talking about racist comments about Muslims being all over Leicester and in London and spreading.
But if you want to be disingenuous about something so horrid that’s up to you. I even sent a post so you could see for yourself.
As with all racists the discussion about the burka was just a platform for them to then sue their odious opinions.
Anyone who thinks this is just about liberating women in burkas must be on another planet.

No idea what you're on about and why you are attacking me, saying I am bring disingenuous about something so horrid.
Nasty insinuations there.

The thread is about the wearing of the burqa.

Babs03 Sun 07-Dec-25 11:55:39

In any case I am not surprised one bit about the racist content on this thread or the failure of contributors to recognise it.

Babs03 Sun 07-Dec-25 11:52:11

*air not sue

Babs03 Sun 07-Dec-25 11:51:28

That is not what I meant I was talking about racist comments about Muslims being all over Leicester and in London and spreading.
But if you want to be disingenuous about something so horrid that’s up to you. I even sent a post so you could see for yourself.
As with all racists the discussion about the burka was just a platform for them to then sue their odious opinions.
Anyone who thinks this is just about liberating women in burkas must be on another planet.

Allira Sun 07-Dec-25 11:43:07

Babs03

Imagine if these comments were made about Jewish people.
Would it be ok?

Do Jewish people cover their faces?

I wasn't aware of that.

Nannee49 Sun 07-Dec-25 09:19:14

Sago asked in the opening post if attitudes of men differed when dealing with women who choose not to wear the burqa. If the burqa is a display of modesty does that, by definition, make women who do not wear "modest" garments immodest?

Lower standards, morally suspect?

I threw away the lace mantilla I used to chastely wear at Sunday mass in the 60s when I read about the Borgia's unholy shenanigans - don't do as I do, do as I say hypocrisy.

Wear modest dress as a fashion statement if it floats your boat, like any fashion statement it's all about the look not the morals.

Iam64 Sun 07-Dec-25 08:28:12

Babs03🤙

Allira Sat 06-Dec-25 23:50:53

www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcthree/2012/02/my-hometown-fanatics-stacey-dooley.shtml

Stacey Dooley appears to be condemning extremism of any kind.
She is right, we should not tolerate extremism.

Allira Sat 06-Dec-25 23:19:04

Wyllow3

It's my opinion based on observing her videos, I watched a couple more too.
I just intervene when I see something full of hate.

So you intervened in the making of the documentary?

Really?

Allira Sat 06-Dec-25 23:16:25

I think Stacey Dooley made a documentary trying to find out why extremism of both sides had risen in her home town.

That does not make her a racist.

Wyllow3 Sat 06-Dec-25 23:03:17

It's my opinion based on observing her videos, I watched a couple more too.
I just intervene when I see something full of hate.

Babs03 Sat 06-Dec-25 22:46:25

Anyway will leave this thread to more of the same.
Obviously nobody has the moral backbone to call this what it is.

Babs03 Sat 06-Dec-25 22:44:54

Imagine if these comments were made about Jewish people.
Would it be ok?