IIRC from my Islamic History class, the headcoverings we see today were considered “modest” by pre-Islamic Arab tribes in the Saudi peninsula and were incorporated into Islam because that was simply peoples’ idea of what “modest” meant. Later, as Islam spread to non-Arab areas such as Iran and Turkey and Indonesia, this traditional Arab conception of modesty went with it.
FWIW, I’ve spent a lot of time with Haredi Jewish women who cover their heads - usually they wear wigs in public, but sometimes when they’re just at home they might wear a headscarf. I can’t say I completely understand the rationale behind it, but I’m pretty sure they’re doing it willingly. I’ve been to about eight trillion holy sites (incl. Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Baha’i) that required me to cover my knees to enter, and I didn’t feel repressed that I wasn’t allowed to flaunt my sexy, sexy knees. (Although apparently the Japanese tourists I saw in the Blue Mosque wearing their shoes and leaving their heads uncovered didn’t agree. Talk about disrespectful.)
I’d like to emphasize this point. The modern western necktie is just about the silliest daily wear item in the world today, but most people don’t think twice about it. It has zero functionality and in its modern form, it has almost no aesthetic appeal. A bolo tie or a string tie or a patterned bowtie is about fifty times more aesthetically appealing than a straight necktie.
In a place like much of the US where muslims are minority, hijab can also serve as a signal for muslims to identify each other. If a young woman hopes to eventually marry a muslim man, it is useful to her that potential suitors to be able to recognize this, and as well, she will need to reject fewer overtures from non-muslim men, the hijab having warned them off at first glance.
And – historically and traditionally, anyway – Bengali Muslim women wore saris and no headscarves, just like their Hindu neighbors. Bangladesh has been experiencing a wave of fundamentalism, so things might be changing.
Do they occasionally go to nightclubs for drinks and dancing?
Here’s another question: If this is just about cultureal differences, how is Islamic culture different from Western culture on the plus side of the freedom ledger? What freedoms do Muslim women enjoy that Western women do not? (And I don’t mean inadvertant ones like not being ogled or having to put on makeup.)
Or has Islam exceeded its quota of restrictions that it can place on people?
Many Muslims do. Observant Muslims generally don’t, though I’ve been at many parties where alcohol was served and the observant Muslims in the crowd just had soft drinks instead.
I’m not sure how this is “inadvertent.” If you wear hijab because you don’t want men to ogle you and then they don’t ogle you, it seems pretty vertent to me. In any case, there’s no contest running; if you want to discuss how restrictive Islam is versus other religions, you might want to start a different thread.
Interesting note. When I was in Cameroon, my married Muslim friends would often visit me with their long head scarfs dutifully draped around their heads- and their breasts fully exposed. Different cultures.
This obviously depends on the person. I hear the “it takes emphasis off of appearance” a lot by converts and older professional women- who are a valid voice. Every cultural norm has varying degrees of adherence, and young women everywhere are strongly drawn to playing up their beauty.
And seeing would-be professionals, as these undergraduate students were/are, any less valid?
I’m talking about students who were taking the hard science courses with me. They were doing the pre-requisite classes for graduate schools or professional schools (medicine, pharmacy, veterinary).
You’re right about young women everywhere playing up their beauty… But I (for the most part) didn’t/don’t do it.
I only knew one classmate who really didn’t put emphasis on beauty, and not only did she wear a headscarf, but a full body covering on top of her jeans and shirts.
Still, I find the argument of “playing off beauty” to be bullshit many times. I don’t see a reason why the women who said that would do otherwise if they didn’t wear a scarf. They would play their beauty down head covering or not.
Some people like school uniforms because it takes the hassle out of getting dressed and minimizes wealth difference. Some people don’t like them, but wear them because they have to. Some people wear theirs with good jewelry and designer shoes- which seems to ruin the point. Some people think they are oppressive and refuse to wear them. Some people think they are okay and do their own thing with them. Some people don’t really care.
There is no one reason why people wear head scarves. And there is no one way to wear the headscarf (as shown in the cartoon earlier.)
In that, I agree. I just think it is (somewhat) BS that they would say the main reason they do that is to take the emphasis off of beauty or external apperances. Unless, of course, the people who said that live by that and do not wear make up or fashionable clothings. But most people (women usually more than men) want to look their best, so they will find ways to show off their beauty, even if they have to wear a headscarf. Which defeats the purpose, if that is the stated reason they wear one.
Some do, some don’t. Some drink, some refuse to accept fares who are carrying alcohol in their taxi cabs or touch bacon as their job as the grocery store cashier. Some wear headscarves in certain situations, but when outside the Muslim community choose not to.
As far as I know, the Somali women I know get the same freedoms I do once they become U.S. Citizens (which many of them are working towards). They may be further restricted by their husbands or their religion - but that is not unique to Muslims - conservative Christians are often restricted by their religion, and my sister had an abusive boyfriend that was very good at restricting her freedoms.
Really unclear on what you mean here.