That burkini!

Why does it only come in black, though? White would be more heat-reflecting but there's no choice. M&S have surely missed a trick there.

I have never understood why women wear black burkas etc when the heat must be terrible in some countries.

It's the burka I couldn't bear whatever it's colour. Imagine not being able to see properly or breathe I would never be able to go out anywhere as I would panic I think

Yes, I would feel claustrophobic too

That's symbolic!

Whitewave - nobody is asking you to! Why the horror and "Oh I coudn't etc etc etc"?
You
Don't
Have
To.

I know that!!!!!! But surely even you must put yourself in someone else's shoes at times.

Well, I think a burkini is a better option than those coloured monstrosities in polyester that make you look like a brightly coloured barrage balloon on legs.

Personally, I have no problem with Marksies' selling burkinis. I don't know what the fuss is about, really. If there's a market, so be it. Hardly "creeping Islamification..."; simply supply and demand.

And it's not as though the face is covered or even veiled. Not sure why you mentioned that in this context, whitewave.

Well of course if they wear goggles and a snorkel that would be about 95% coverage. Only joking.

I wonder if M and S sell halal meat too, hope not.

Well I'm sure some of the previous posters would think that was fine too. Sigh.

I'm sure Marksies' stocks halal meat, Jane, where there's demand. Tesco does.

Muslims eat too, you know...

Alea tightly shut!

OK I give in. I'll hide my body, obey DH in all things, never be in the presence of men without DH or brother present, never let a wisp of hair be seen, and only eat the meat of animals who have had their throats cut. Better get DS circumcised while I'm at it. Back to the dark ages girls but we can call it multicultural living.

Er.........a bit of a massive generalisation there, don't you think, Jane?

I WILL NOT swear on Good Friday, but that post was pathetic.

Do you actually want to outlaw the Muslim faith in this country jane10? What do you think would happen if our government did that? Please think about it.

WOTT jane10 - truly. Nobody is asking you to do any of those things.

As anno and others have said, if wearing a burkini allows those women to go swimming, great. As for the Hygiene issue as compared to long short for men- the issue there is that they are often worn to cycle to and from the pool, or all day- and then at the pool. Burkinis are made of a very fine material, and are worn only for swimming and washed in between- no comparison.

When I was in Sharm with GReatnan a few years back, several young women wore colourful burkinis at the pool and it was great chatting to them and their families. What was truly disgusting was the other guests, mainly Brits and some Germans, who would cover themselves with loads of suntan oil, sweat for a couple of hours, jump in the pool (without using the showers which were at each end of the pool and the many signs present saysing showing was compusory) and then start all over again- several times a day! Now THAT is disgusting and unhygienic. The lovely pool attendant, a young doctor from Cairo- just couldn't understand why Brits refuse to shower- despite being reminded several times (and insulting the pool attendant for reminding them- yes a young man with 100x+ their brainpower).

As for pressures form the males to cover up- is it very different from the pressures to be thin and look great in a tiny bikini... for them?

Jane I sense your frustration and totally understand it.
As for me I am not a bit surprised that people just don't want to see beyond their own circle/nose but eventually these things will impact everyone and 'forewarned is forearmed'. My DGM always said "There are none so blind as those who don't want to see" and that remains as true today as it did in her day.
Those who warn are never popular particularly when people are determined to live with the 'elephant in the room' and not mention it even while it may be trashing all they hold dear. This is a country with ideals and standards and culture that is worth preserving and at some point the people will come to see that it is necessary to do so if all they hold dear is not to be swept away. No-one can win against something evil if they fail to acknowledge they even have an enemy and so it will continue to build until all hell breaks loose.

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing"
attributed to Edmund Burke. He also said, "Early and provident fear is the mother of safety" and "The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion". A very wise man!

Indeed Synomymous

synonomous I don't think there's a person in the Western world who is unaware of the horrors that IS and other terrorist groups are capable of.

However, most Muslims go about their everyday business like everyone else, as do the members of any other culture. They pay their taxes, send their kids to school, cook and eat and generally mind their own business.

If they eat halal meat and wear a burkini, so be it.

gettingonabit just as you say.

Turning this around, suppose M&S had already established through market research that there is a market for burkinis, and it would be viable to include the burkini in their swimwear range. As they must have done, or they wouldn't be including it.
If they then decided to not offer them for sale after all, would that not be marginalising Muslim women?
We are a multiracial, multicultural society and I think it's a laudable thing for M&S to do, but quite obviously a brave one, in view of some of the comments on here.

granjura I marvel at your ability to have a go at the Brits, and compare them unfavourably with just about any nation on earth, whatever the subject of the thread is.
Give it a rest, please. We've heard it all before.

No point in commenting further.

As for the Hygiene issue as compared to long short for men- the issue there is that they are often worn to cycle to and from the pool, or all day- and then at the pool.
Oh yuk