2. As for the headscarf, my insinuation is that the hijab is on the same continuum as the burka. I don't want any form of mask legislated on me, culturally or otherwise.
Most cultures demand that this or that part of the body must be "masked" by clothing, at least in public, while a (very) few are okay with public nudity. Are you the arbiter for all these cultures? Do they all have to institute your standards? Who are you to tell Muslims (or naked jungle indians, or whoever) what their dress code should be?
LOL. Touche! I guess I was taken aback when you said something like if you were the arbiter you would demand all cultures eject all western dress. I wasn't sure if that was hyperbole or not. Although I basically agree, I wouldn't if I were a woman during chinese footbinding days or in a culture demanding excessive coverage.
But then I'm not of those cultures, so no, I can't say for them, but the presumption of your idea seems to be that everyone would be happier without the western overlay. Probably true, but I can't help but think that not all aspects of tradition are necessarily positive and some forms of enlightment from outside one's culture can be an improvement, including aspects of traditional dress.
It's possible to use discernment to see the difference between universally opposing mutilation like footbinding, versus not universally opposing cultures that cover or don't cover the wrong body part with clothing.
Islam sees a universal value in modesty, meaning that in all cultures it's bad to use (un)dress to brag or sexually titillate. The public sphere should be as free as possible from braggadocio and titillation. Whereas today's satanic Western culture is pretty much nothing BUT braggadocio and titillation. Even many Muslim women today combine tight or provocative clothing with hijab, demonstrating how their "Islam" has been totally corrupted.
So to a certain extent I must plead guilty to the same crime I charged you with: Willingness to impose my values on others.
Great interview! Always love Helen's opinions. She could make the proverbial analysis of a telephone book edifying. Keep having her back!
For the record, many feminists would never equate liberation with the right to be a sexual piece of meat. And while I appreciate that many Iranian feminists want the hajib, I think its a low-bar reach to locate liberatory dignity in wearing the equivalent of a full-body mask.
Glad you liked the interview! Correction: The word is hijab, and we're talking about a headscarf, not a full body mask!!
1. Ok, you outed me. I'm dyslexic.
2. As for the headscarf, my insinuation is that the hijab is on the same continuum as the burka. I don't want any form of mask legislated on me, culturally or otherwise.
Most cultures demand that this or that part of the body must be "masked" by clothing, at least in public, while a (very) few are okay with public nudity. Are you the arbiter for all these cultures? Do they all have to institute your standards? Who are you to tell Muslims (or naked jungle indians, or whoever) what their dress code should be?
LOL. Touche! I guess I was taken aback when you said something like if you were the arbiter you would demand all cultures eject all western dress. I wasn't sure if that was hyperbole or not. Although I basically agree, I wouldn't if I were a woman during chinese footbinding days or in a culture demanding excessive coverage.
But then I'm not of those cultures, so no, I can't say for them, but the presumption of your idea seems to be that everyone would be happier without the western overlay. Probably true, but I can't help but think that not all aspects of tradition are necessarily positive and some forms of enlightment from outside one's culture can be an improvement, including aspects of traditional dress.
It's possible to use discernment to see the difference between universally opposing mutilation like footbinding, versus not universally opposing cultures that cover or don't cover the wrong body part with clothing.
Islam sees a universal value in modesty, meaning that in all cultures it's bad to use (un)dress to brag or sexually titillate. The public sphere should be as free as possible from braggadocio and titillation. Whereas today's satanic Western culture is pretty much nothing BUT braggadocio and titillation. Even many Muslim women today combine tight or provocative clothing with hijab, demonstrating how their "Islam" has been totally corrupted.
So to a certain extent I must plead guilty to the same crime I charged you with: Willingness to impose my values on others.
Poor women ......best wishes to all of you
Great interview! Always love Helen's opinions. She could make the proverbial analysis of a telephone book edifying. Keep having her back!
For the record, many feminists would never equate liberation with the right to be a sexual piece of meat. And while I appreciate that many Iranian feminists want the hajib, I think its a low-bar reach to locate liberatory dignity in wearing the equivalent of a full-body mask.