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A
veil from the Amish – a Christian community in the U.S. |
A time
remembered, is a period of historical films on British history, when
to see a woman veiled was quite normal. To surf on the Internet, one
could be led to believe that the veil begins and ends with Islam, or
as a wedding dress accessory. The event of banning the veil in France
has only served to show how much is based on a gut reaction, so deep
that there is a past to it. Another misnomer is that the underlying
reason President Chirac banned all religious symbols, is because he is
a desperate man trying to quell the growing uncontrollable tide of
anti-Semitism in France. The last time one looked,
Jews indigenous to the Middle East were of the same Semite race as
those they feel superior to-the Palestinians (both Christian and
Muslims)! As such, the growing attacks against Jews spreading across
Europe, in Britain, Germany, Italy and Belgium etc. has been
engineered to turn against Muslims. This has symbolized how far
humanity has to go before it can become humane, where men women and
children have taken to the streets in the twenty-first century to
march for their individual rights. The suffragettes once fought for
women's rights, which only imprisoned women into slavery to the body
beautiful, against the dictates of a Christian Europe that
incarcerated women to a life of servitude in mind and body, when Islam
had given Muslim women their rights.
This
dictate, descends from the Christian Bible which states in
1Corinthians 11:
4
Any man who prays or prophesies with his head covered brings shame
upon his head. But any woman who prays or prophesies with her head
unveiled brings shame upon her head, for it is one and the same
thing as if she had had her head shaved. For if a woman does not
have her head veiled, she may as well have her hair cut off. But if
it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head
shaved, then she should wear a veil. 5
A man, on the other hand, should not cover his head, because he is
the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. For man
did not come from woman, but woman from man; nor was man created for
woman, but woman for man;” (NAB)
Further
clarification is given in 1 Timothy II 8-9 of the Gospels:
For
this I was appointed preacher and apostle (I am speaking the truth,
I am not lying), teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.3
It is my wish, then, that in every place the men should pray,
lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument. Similarly, (too,)
women should adorn themselves with proper conduct, with modesty and
self-control, not with braided hairstyles and gold ornaments, or
pearls, or expensive clothes, but rather, as befits women who
profess reverence for God, with good deeds. A woman must receive
instruction silently and under complete control. I do not permit a
woman to teach or to have authority over a man. 4
She must be quiet.” (NAB)
Hence,
it is written in the early codes of Christianity that women should
veil. Far from ending in the past, the veil was used to subjugate
women in Christianity. It was the first Latin theologian of the second
and third centuries, Quinus Septimus Florens Tertullianus, who, with
fervor, wrote on the veiling of women:
“ For
that custom which belies virgins while it exhibits them, would never
have been approved by any except by some men who must have been
similar in character to the virgins themselves. Such eyes will wish
that a virgin be seen as has the virgin who shall wish to be seen. The
same kinds of eyes reciprocally crave after each other. Seeing and
being, belong to the self-same lust…
The
matter that has been left to choice, for each virgin to veil herself
with, as she might have chosen, just as (she had equal liberty)… But
when the power of discerning began to advance, so that the license
granted to either fashion was becoming the means whereby the
indication of the better part emerged; immediately the great adversary
of good things and much more of good institutions set to his own
work…
Every
public exposure of an honorable virgin is (to her) a suffering of
rape: and yet the suffering of carnal violence is the less evil,
because it comes of natural office. But when the very spirit itself is
violated in a virgin by the abstracting of her covering, she has
learnt to lose what she used to keep….”
The
Western patriarchal view of women can be embodied as Tertullianus
wrote:
“It is
not permitted for a woman to speak in the church; but neither (is it
permitted her), to teach, nor to baptize, nor to office.
It
remains likewise that we turn to (the virgins) themselves, to induce
them to accept these (suggestions) the more willingly… But we
admonish you too, women of the second (degree of) modesty, who have
fallen into wedlock, not to outgrow so far the discipline of the veil,
not even in a moment of an hour, as, because you cannot refuse it, to
take some other means to nullify it, by going neither covered nor
bare….Arabia’s heathen females will be your judges, who cover not
only the head, but the face also, so entirely, that they are content,
with one eye free, to enjoy rather half the light than to prostitute
the entire face. A female would rather see than be seen”.
Enveloped
in the Western perception of women is the “Fall of Eve”, which has
shaped Western societal norms throughout the centuries. Christian
scholar Leland Haines spells it out: “It was only the wealthy that
one can find explored their sense of sexuality outside of social
mores. Not to wear the veiling implies freedom from submission to man.
(Haine p.3).
Medieval
Era
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In
the middle ages there were increased numbers of women to become
nuns
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The
noblewomen covered their hair with bonnets and veils, especially after
the church issued an edict that women should keep their hair covered.
Middle
Ages
A lot of
Western women’s frustration over their gender can be attributed to
the church, as opposed to Christianity and the general view of women
in society. During this period, single, divorced and noblewomen had
the right to possess property, a right that was lost.
once
they married. Women could trade, save money and were legally liable
until then. Under French “Salic Law”, in the sixth and seventh
centuries, women could inherit land as long as there were no male
relatives. It was a combination of the theologies of Aristotle and
Augustus that culminated in Thomas Aquinas, Head of the English
Church, firmly establishing in this period the belief that a woman’s
role was solely to marry, procreate and raise children. Any
intellectual pursuit was the prerogative of men. Women were inferior
and the causes of evil. It was this that increased the flow of women
to become nuns, where they could have some degree of control over
their lives (usm p. 1, 2).
Elizabethan
Period
The
“snood” that arose out of the Tudor period, became the rage with
fashion trendsetter of the day, Queen Elizabeth. Crocheted or beaded,
snoods kept the hair out of the way and clean. They are still popular
today,
Victorian
Period
Often
deemed the most oppressive period in Western women’s history, it was
during the middle of the nineteenth century that hair started to hang
loose at the nape, with curls, crimps and all kinds of tantalizing
hairstyles. The agricultural revolution offered more food than before,
and the industrial revolution offered new jobs, new towns, new
societies, plus more and varied commodities. Queen Victoria’s
introduction of the wedding dress gave a new life to the veil. It set
a trend that has become a dream for most girls.
19th
Century
With
major renovations taking place in Paris, doctors were strongly
recommending that women wore veiled bonnets to protect themselves from
dust and airborne diseases. In fact it was fashionable to the extent
that women viewed the veil as a symbol of high-class and
respectability. Art historian Dr. Marni Kessler, as a male, held
contradictory views on the subject, but stated that the veil provided
a barrier between the woman and the city. “She was not blinded by
the veil, but nevertheless held back, protected and shielded from
modern life”. (Barker p.1).
Hence,
women were appendages of men, and the property of men, with no rights
of their own, as embodied in Christian teachings. Is it embedded
somewhere in their trace memory every time they look at a veiled
Muslim woman? Can it not be seen that, unlike certain Christian
teachings of old, the veil in Islam is not about subjugation to men,
but about not being subjugated to the body. Can it not be seen that
the rights of women in Islam are written into Islam, and are not an
influence from elsewhere?
Western
women were void of any sort of rights until the nineteenth century.
That past was to be broken with the advent of industrialization, which
only respects profits not rights. Through the vehicle of the
Suffragette movement, women became free from one form of slavery and
bound into the slavery of the body. Believing to be free, Western
women were no longer appendages of men. The fast sweeping changes were
too much for some. The Free Church rose, part of which is the
conservative Christian group the Amish, who separated themselves from
a world they rejected and followed strict codes against military
involvement; the older members are even against the use of
electricity. The veil was a part of the Amish wife’s daily wear
(Headcoverings p.1) and some communities still hold onto these
traditions.
Dehumanization:
Hair Crazy
For many
women today, the hair has become all too important; the essence of
femininity has been associated with the hair. Yet, in the West, up
until the twentieth century hairstyling was limited to the upper
classes. We never think of how much we adulterate hair with the many
harsh chemicals found in modern day shampoos and permanent dyes.
Whatever the tradition, in general, the hair when styled was
confined by shaving, cutting, the hairstyle itself, and veiling-except
for those where every ploy was used to entice the men, as long tresses
held much provocation. Otherwise, it was considered unhygienic and
impractical to have the hair loose.
To show
how obsessed with visual appeal we have become, a poll by Yankelovich
Partners in 2001 showed that 69% of Americans felt that clothing, hair
and make-up were the most important determining factors in deciding on
whether or not one got a job, 67% said that ones appearance affects
whether one gets a new challenge, responsibility or opportunity. Can
you believe that 78% of Americans felt that clothes, hair and make-up
affect ones ability to do the job? However, one should bear in mind
that Yankelovich were sponsored by the Cosmetic, Toiletry and
Fragrance Association to provide this survey! (womenwork.org p.1).
It is
almost as if those that seize the opportunity to attack Islam through
the issue of women, or use Muslim women to unload what is still
imbedded in their psyche from an oppressive past, have associated the
Islamic veil as a tool of male chauvinism under the guise of
“Islamic fundamentalism”. Yet they have no working alternative to
put in its place! They use the old game of “labeling” in the
church. “The technique of labeling is used to discount a person who
opposes the beliefs of a religious addict. Labeling attempts to
dehumanize persons, so that dismissing them or their opinions is much
easier. Choosing not to address someone individually who has doubted
the toxic faith, the religious addict places a blanket negative label
on all who would disagree with his or her personal habits. Rather than
state that John Smith has made a negative statement, the addict
proclaims that there are ‘detractors’, ‘traitors’ or
‘malcontents’ who would destroy the ministry or organization. The
label becomes a rallying point under which the other followers can be
moved to action to squelch a revolt”! (spiritualbase p.1).
Therefore, as such, the rallying cry has been made and we raise our
voices, the question is not if, but when will there be success in
de-robing the Muslim woman? This is the idea after all, to make the
Muslim woman feel as if she is old-fashioned, therefore making her
react emotionally to what is going on and unwittingly undo all that
supports the fabric and well-being of a Muslim society-the family. The
fairy-tale of Rapunzel was only enchanting to many because of the
length of her hair, which her knight in shining armor used to climb
his way into her heart. People have been made to feel inferior because
of their hair:
“We
are still enslaved in our thinking.
Society has molded us in our speaking.
I have a problem with the word nappy because it is not being
associated with our true identity as being happy.
Why do I have to have a chemical on any of my hairs?
I don’t want to conform to any standard of theirs.
They are those who impose their repressed feelings on the
impressionable youth.
Who are just learning to love themselves inside and out.
Youth who want only to fit in with a set standard of beauty, without a
doubt.
We as a people need to come together on this.
Most are living happily because ignorance is bliss.
They don't know that saying "good hair” is as degrading as
using the N-word as a term of endearment.
By changing our thinking, we can not only come out of darkness
mentally but come out of our concealment!” (nappyhair.com)
Many
distance themselves from others because of the loss of hair in
illness. One teenager wrote:
Her
hair. Her hair was like an ocean with curls and curls and waves. There
were red streaks, in her long brown hair; her eyes were emeralds, her
skin a golden bronze. She is my best friend. I would do anything to
have her hair - the way it fell against her shoulder, like a golden
maple frame around a beautiful picture. "What's chemo?" I
asked as Mom pulled me aside. I hope she doesn't die. I hope she can
still have her hair. But; she can't, and it fell out. She had Hodgkins
disease and she lost her hair. Seeing her in the hospital with clearly
painful tubes tied to her chest, with massive grey machines attached
to her - without her hair. It was hard to look. To see her hurting so
badly, made me hurt too, so I cut my hair. by Ashley Nestor, New City,
NY” (Ashley, teenink.com).
The
High Cost of Sexploitation
We are
in denial, I think, as to what impact the hair has in determining who
we are, not because it actually does, but for some deeper meaning. It
has an illogical affect on human beings that can make one like, hate,
resent, bully, desire and reject a person, and for no other reason.
Every physical feature on a woman's body has to have a visual appeal
that some non-Western women try to emulate. That visual appeal has
become packaged as sex; sex as a commodity. Beautiful women have
become visually available to sell the unsellable. Sexploitation
invites men to possess with their eye what they cannot possess with
their hands, playing on the desires of men, heightening their
sensibilities to a point where many find it difficult not to take what
they have been “invited” to take. The illusion of women's rights
in the West have been at the cost of men's rights, only serving to
enslave both genders to the unalienable right “to have”. The other
term for it is “consumerism”-the same consumerism that is the
bedrock of Western industrialization, colonialism and globalization;
and has led to all forms of violence occurring in civil society.
The
RAINN Organization that provides the National Sexual Assault Hotline
in the US states: "Every two minutes, somewhere in America,
someone is sexually assaulted". There were 247,730 victims of
rape in 2002, 44,000 of those rape victims were under 18 years of age.
Ninety three percent of juvenile sexual assault victims knew their
attackers, 34% were family members and only 7% of the attackers were
strangers (rain.org p.1, 2). This only serves to show how even the
individual concept of family is being eroded.
Dissolving
a Myth
When
women choose to neglect their rights as recognized under Islam, they
also become negligent of the possible consequences, not only to
themselves, but also to their families, and society as a whole. The
veil is a protection of those rights, which a few non-Westerners are
beginning to wake-up to. Transforming the common Western perception of
veiled Muslim women, that was shaped by their own past, Mary Walker,
production coordinator for the BBC2 series “Living in Islam”, said
in Impact Magazine:
"To
me the veil symbolized the oppression of women, making them invisible,
anonymous and voiceless, and the cause of this oppression lay in the
will to perpetuate the family and maintain a patriarchal framework-the
very basis of an Islamic Society. I thought women were entirely
submerged by divine justification of their role as wife and mother…
“Living in Islam” was filmed over two years in 19 different
countries, and on location, I was a lone female in an otherwise male
team… The first Muslim woman I met in Mali was far removed from my
preconception about the Muslim female. She was the wife of a sheikh
dedicated to converting pagan villagers to Islam. A sophisticated,
well-educated woman, previously married to a diplomat, she had
renounced a Western lifestyle for a life in purdah…
The
emancipated woman in the West faces the conflict between confirmation
of her femininity and the privileges that she associates with it, and
repudiation of the confines of her female role and all the limitations
that men want her to assume. From where I stood, this woman had
transformed those limitations into privileges… On my next trip to
northern Nigeria, I met two more women who would alter my views even
further… Once again, they had rejected the Western lifestyle, which
I considered so superior to Islam in its treatment of women… The
women talked, and in their answers, I saw seeds of my own
re-evaluations. They argued that the veil signified their rejection of
an unacceptable system of values that debased women, while Islam
elevated women to a position of honor and respect. "It is not
liberation where you say women should go naked". Just as to us
the veil represents Muslim oppression, to them miniskirts and plunging
necklines represent oppression. They said that men are cheating women
in the West. They let us believe we're liberated, but enslave us to
the male gaze….”
The
tresses of forgetfulness is what fell with an enchanting dance,
To
grace her body in the glowing sun.
Those
tresses caught not his eye, but his senses, and could not,
Would
not, rise above that trance,
His
imagination unfolded passions within from where he cared not,
For
all he saw in that moment
Was
a need to fulfill what lied within with what he saw -
Who
she was
Did
not matter, neither did her honor.
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