Why Do Some Women Wear Burkas?
The burqa is a body-covering garment Muslim women wear in countries like India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. According to womeninworldhistory.com, Muslim women also commonly wear a hijab, a "loose clothing topped by a type of scarf worn around the head and under the chin." It is believed that women living in conservative countries wear burqa out of fear of being beaten or arrested. But in western countries, women reportedly wear burqas for their individual beliefs.
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Maintaining Equality
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Women report that the burqa is not worn to remain suppressed by men, but for purposes of remaining equal to men. Women who wear burqas are able to maintain a level of anonymity, and in public, they are not judged on their physicality. Additionally, under the safe veil of burqa, women evade being objectified by men who might otherwise make advances toward women or relentlessly stare at their bodies.
Honoring Family
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In families who practice the Muslim faith, the honor of the family depends upon the women remaining pure. If women are debased in any way, the men of these families might be viewed as inferior, or rejected by society. As such, in public women wear burqas to protect themselves from men, while maintaining respect from them.
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Honoring Religion
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The Quran (Muslim doctrine) states that women shall be portrayed as unassuming in their dress. While the interpretation of what "unassuming" means has developed over time, traditionally women have chosen to cover up with burqa or hijab to show respect for their religion.
Maintaining Dignity
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According to A.M. Mora y Leon in the October 14, 2004, issue of "American Thinker," in volatile, war-stricken nations like Afghanistan, women wear burqas partially due to the perpetual threat of death. The greatest dishonor for women in Afghanistan is to be killed in the street, then left to rot like a dead animal. Such a dishonor is more feared by women than death itself. Afghani women, therefore, wear burqas as a preemptive measure for dying with dignity.
Protecting Against Exploitation
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Women are continually forced to live up to standards set forth by images disseminated through the media. Plastered among magazines, billboards, television programming, film marketing and other media are images of women wearing little or no clothing. Such imagery has sent messages to men and women that women are solely meant to pleasure men. Many Muslim women, however, wear the burqa to retaliate against such messages. These women believe that covering up their physical attributes forces men to respect women for their minds.
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References
- Photo Credit schatten image by Westa Zikas from Fotolia.com
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Comments
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well then mebbe men might have to be taught respect for everybody including themselves. this is so tribal doesn't fit intothe western way of living. it belongs on the horn of africa.
