The spokesman for the group of lawmakers behind banning burqas in France says that “wearing the burka is a submissive act, and that… is contrary to republican principles.” Clearly they hope we’ll interpret this to mean the ban is about gender equality.
Je ne le pense pas.
I do not see anything in their statement about supporting women. At best, it is just ego, a la “What will the neighbors think?”
At worst, its a non-too-subtle attempt to oppress and intimidate a subculture.
Yes, we all know Islam has sects that treat women as inferior to men (kinda like Roman Catholicism, the primary religion in France). But the burqa is a symptom, not a cause. That’s what makes this so transparent.
If the French were really worried about upholding their “republican principles,” they’d work on fixing the legendary sexism in their dominant culture.
Technorati Tags: France, sexism, Islam, xenophobia
Amen.
I hate the head scarf/burqa deal. But attacking it without dealing with the underlying problem only makes it worse for the women involved.
Your point is well taken, but anything that completely covers the face also makes it impossible to recognize a person. Want to rob a bank? Wear a burqa. The same thing is true of people who walk around wearing ski masks. It’s not modesty, it’s concealing identity.
Ah, interesting point, Pogo. And fairly compelling as well. If only the French used *that* argument instead of the “submissive act” bullpucky…