Are The Veil And The Burqa Forms Of Oppression For Women?
In the last decade there have been a meteoric rise in the use of the veil in Muslim communities and countries Secular countries such as Egypt, Lebanon or Tunisia have seen an increase in the frequency with which women wear Islamic clothing, especially among new generations of young people who, a priori, should have a more Westernist social approach.
The veil has become a claim for some feminist organizations, which perceive it as the last element that men use to nullify the personality, identity and integrity of women. Other groups, Muslim or not, defend the freedom for Muslim women to decorate their clothing with the veil as long as this choice is free and does not come from an imposition, of course.
The burqa is also associated with certain forms of Muslim faith, and its use has also generated controversy. Is the use of the veil and the burqa an effect of oppression against women?
As bizarre as it may be, within the same scholars and specialists in interpretation of the Koran there are divergences when it comes to analyzing the clothing to be worn by the female faithful.
In one of the verses or suras of the Holy Quran, sura 24:31 An-Nur, it is stated: “(…) and tell the faithful women to spread their jumur on their heads (…)”. Jumur is translated as veil, mantilla, handkerchief, curtain among others. The etymology comes from the intention to watch over to ensure the physical integrity of women against the provocative and adulterous gazes of the male sex.
In this sense, the complexity does not result from whether to cover the head or not, but rather what limits can be placed on the diameter or dimensions to be covered. Thus, In different countries we find different ways to cover oneself with the veil where you can see a small percentage of the visible hair, complete coverage or half of the hair in the open air.
The Burka and feminine integrity
The burqa piece, however, does have a more controversial origin Without going any further, in some Islamic countries it is categorically rejected and prohibited by legislation, such as Iran or Kuwait, where at least the female face must be able to be shown for security reasons.
In this case, the burqa does respond to a subjective interpretation of some Islamic societies such as the Afghan one, of ancient tribes who understand that the entire female figure is beauty, which makes it necessary to fully cover your physique In Pakistan, the use of such attire is also quite common, which is important given the large population of the country.
Oppression or freedom?
The controversy always extends around the use and its hidden meaning. Should the burqa be banned? And the veil? Religious and image freedom rejects any debate, except for some current amendment linked to security, while all citizens must be able to be identified
Any act of voluntariness should not entail the conceptual punishment of oppression, since freedom of choice should not burden the debate with value judgments, demonizing a purely individual decision. For some Muslim women, The fact of feeling forced to reveal oneself is oppression itself
Does the addition of the veil imply oppression or freedom? In any case, let those affected decide, those interested in taking it or those who are thinking about it. If we give another example of different clothing, We find the Indian chador, which equally covers 90% of the woman’s body, avoiding marking the female silhouette. Who is crying out loud about it? It is clear that there is an implicit cultural bias at play, another thing is that its existence accounts for all the controversy that has arisen around this type of clothing for women.
The Burkini, solution or problem?
The burkini is an aquatic garment that was invented in 2003 in Australia to, precisely, resolve all the conflicts created for women who longed to be able to bathe without having to uncover. The author of the design, Aheda Zanetti, declared on the BBC: “I invented the burkini to bring cultures together, and it seems that bothers someone.”
The ban on the burkini in the country of egalitè, libertè et fraternitè, has been another harsh setback to the conflict that already existed with the veil or burka To do this, another analogy should be presented that serves to clear up doubts. The surfer wetsuit covers from neck to ankle, for both men and women.
While the veil or burqa are used every day, it seems strange that a garment that is used from time to time generates as much or more controversy. But in reality it is not: the debate comes from the difference between male and female swimsuits, and the possibility that religion, in the form of patriarchal imposition, conditions the thinking of Muslim women and those of other religious beliefs.
It can be said that this invention has represented one more advance for the integrity of women that so many Western feminist groups demand. Participation in the Olympic Games, regional international championships or participation in women’s aquatic sports in Islamic countries would have occurred, among other things, thanks to clothing such as the burkini.
However, it can also be said that if until now the female representation of these countries was limited it was due to the material and ideological impositions that have been articulated through, among other things, the interpretation of the Koran. There is much debate ahead.
