4/2/10
Having lived for several years in a veiled society, I feel the most important questions have not been asked (Letters, February 3).Why do women wear the veil? Where in the Koran does it say women must cover themselves from head to toe? If it doesn’t stipulate that, why do they continue to do so? My experience of living in the Gulf was that if they did not, they would be ostracised from their families, community and culture. As the honour of the Muslim family was based on the virginity or sexual purity of its female members, to do otherwise would bring everlasting shame. The veil took from the woman the ability to be recognised, or to have a specific identity, and left her as a faceless, nameless, cloaked black figure. And in covering the woman’s face and form, men were exonerated from accepting responsibility for their carnal desires.
In moving to a Western context, we again should ask, why the veil? We may not all start in Australia as equals, but hard work and determination will often ensure those not genetically and/or financially blessed, will thrive regardless. The same cannot be said of women from veiled cultures. Gender discrimination is real – a woman could not work as an engineer or pilot where I lived – and thriving. If it is really the woman’s choice to be segregated in Western or non-Islamic nations, I accept and embrace that. But I want to see proof that none of these other factors come into play. As much as these women may say otherwise, I am yet to be convinced. Claire Wallace, Rozelle
More Letters: See: http://www.smh.com.au/national/letters/abbotts-faith-in-goodwill-exceeds-the-evidence-20100203-nde1.html; France denies citizenship over veil; 3/2/10; http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2010/02/20102311368461133.html
Tags: Australia, France, Religion, Womens Rights