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Spark: Muslim Women in the News

Posted by xJane on March 26th, 2008 at 3:58 pm · 6 Comments

Turkey’s Political Tensions Weigh on Women’s Heads, where a new law allows headscarves in universities. hat tip

Writers Can’t See Past the Veil, a critique of Muslim women’s recent portrayal in the news.

Using the Koran to feminist ends.

Spark is a new category for sharing links. No intense commentary, just a link & a brief reason you might want to click on it. Something to Spark your Mind to Flame, if you will.

Tags: Activism · Belief · Church and State · Current Events · Feminism · Gender · Islam · Links · Politics · Religion · Spark

6 responses so far ↓

  • 1 wren // Mar 26, 2008 at 6:25 pm

    I haven’t read the Koran so I can’t speak to the article about the Koran supporting feminism. I can say I’ve always found the Bible somewhat misogynistic (and at some points extremely so). I even thought that back when I found feminists annoying.

    Regarding the scarf, I don’t agree with laws banning such things. I can appreciate removal for govt id photos. But as far as banning things simply because they are religious, I’m not so sure that’s a good idea. For one, it gives religious groups a reason to claim persecution. That can fan some fanatical flames. For another, as far as I’m concerned, religion should be treated as just another group people choose to affiliate with. Banning stuff like wearing a cross, a head scarf, a yarmulke… that seems to elevate religion. Perhaps the elevation of religion is part of the problems we have in the world today. If a scarf was seen by others as a sign of affiliation, like say a NASCAR hat or a concert tshirt, the “power” of religion would decrease.

  • 2 xJane // Mar 27, 2008 at 2:52 pm

    wren: I know very little about the Koran, but my office mate used to swear that the head covering was because women were more special than men (and because men were animals). I also find the Bible very misogynistic but I have heard feminist arguments that use the Bible to their own ends.

    I definitely think that the scarf should be banned for passport/ID photos. That seems (to me) to be a no-brainer. Although I like your argument that we should look at it as just another affiliation. The Apple on my bumper may well be a sign of religious affiliation, but most people don’t see it that way.

  • 3 Elaine // Mar 27, 2008 at 4:33 pm

    “Because they are more special than men?”

    Hah. I heard that as an excuse for why Mormon women can’t hold the priesthood more than once. Didn’t believe it then, either.

    On a more serious note, I’m kind of in two minds about the head-scarf issue. On the one hand, it irritates the heck out of me when women wear it (and I’m sure many do) because their spiritual leader or husband or father makes or shames them into it and not because they want to. On the other hand, it also kind of bothers me that women who want to wear it out of real religious devotion, to set themselves apart as a Muslim, are in some places prevented from doing so, often by male lawmakers.

    It’s sort of like they can’t win for losing, with men telling them what they have to wear (or not wear) no matter which way the issue falls. It’s paternalistic either way. So, while I agree in terms of being required to take it off for official photographs, in general day-to-day life, I’m not sure I like anyone telling anyone what they can wear or not wear as long as there isn’t a healthy or safety (real safety, not religious or political paranoia) component to a banning or requirement.

  • 4 Elaine // Mar 27, 2008 at 4:36 pm

    I just read back what I wrote. I didn’t mean, in the second paragraph, that Mormon women can’t hold the priesthood more than once. (Hey, you…yes you there. Get your mind out of the gutter :) )

    What I did mean, of course, is that I heard that used as an excuse more than once.

    Guess that’ll teach me to try to write when I’m hungry and in a hurry. :)

  • 5 xJane // Mar 27, 2008 at 6:15 pm

    I held the priesthood twice this morning!

    Sorry, I wasn’t in the gutter until you said get out :-p I also read read it the way it was intended: I’m working on a post right now about the RC Womenpriests. Speaking of holding the priesthood…

    I love supporting women who want to wear headscarves (one of my sisters thinks she needs to wear one at church). And women who want to wear miniskirts. Both seem indicative of What Men Want Women To Wear and yet can be chosen by women. At the end of the day, although I’d still love to get DH into a utilikilt, what someone wants to wear (or not wear) should in only rare circumstances (dress codes at work, uniforms at school) be dictated to them.

  • 6 xJane // Mar 28, 2008 at 8:55 am

    here’s an interesting list of why some women choose to wear the headscarf

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