Burqa

[pietillidie]

[David]

Unfortunately, this has gained some traction. Niqab wearers are now banned from the public gallery in parliament house:

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/03/tony-abbott-has-not-asked-for-burqa-ban-to-be-reversed-speakers-office-says

[mandy]

Any word on leggings?

[think positive]

I object to them. But because I think they are oppressive to woman, a form of slavery. Imagine wearing one of those every time you walk out the door, or another male is in your presence? Seriously �$%$ed up.


As for leggings, depends what you mean. Those thin cotton things, sometimes in garish patterns? Yep get your arse covered with a long top! Jeggings? As long as they are a thick material they look fine.

I have some thick ones from Jacquie e, they hold all the jiggles, but I still wear either a short dress, or long jumper with them. Can't beat them for comfort.

What about sports leggings? Aka skins? Seems all the rage now, like they think if they wear em, they've done their exercise!

So is this a body shame thing? ( OMG I sound like David!) can skinny girls wear em? Or is it only fattys copping the grief? I'll be honest,I see fatties in them, with the short tight top and think, gees you don't have a mirror? And even the skinnies in them, I think gees, breakfast is showing.

My daughter wears them as pants, and I'll occasionally say, you forgot something. But I gotta be honest, she looks sensational in them! As a mum, I'd rather she be a little more discreet. But after watching both my daughters go out on the town the last few years in little more than a band aide and a belt, hey, I'm kinda blas� now!

[swoop42]

[watt price tully]

[watt price tully]

France's banning of the Burqa has allegedly led to a radicalisation of teenagers (amongst others): (ariticle in the Guardian):

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/oct/03/schoolgirls-jihad-society-problem-france-burqa-ban

[Morrigu]

^ way over the top!

I find only being able to see someone's eyes a bit uncomfortable but in the end that's my problem.

In some ways I think it would be quite liberating not having to worry about what you are going wear, not being subjected to looks and comments and not having to worry about whether it is fashionable ( not that I have any clues about fashion full stop!) - but then you'd have to get used to abuse and being spat on so maybe not.


And whilst I was reading that saw this......

Israel�s national airline, El Al, has been criticised for allowing ultra-orthodox Jewish men to disrupt flights by refusing to be seated next to women.

Female passengers on other airlines flying to and from Israel, such as British Airways and easyJet, have also been asked to move seats at the request of ultra-orthodox men. Some airlines close toilets for periods during flights to allow men to gather to pray.

The outcry over flights comes against a backdrop of moves by hardline ultra-orthodox communities in Israel to impose dress codes on women, restrictions on where they can sit on public buses, segregated checkout queues in supermarkets and the removal of women�s images from advertising hoardings.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/30/israeli-airline-ultra-orthodox-men-bullying-women

Why does it seem that male extremists of all religions have such a problem with women - ya wouldn't be here at all you pillocks without one

[watt price tully]

[Mugwump]

^ WPT, I could quibble with your premise (the fact that domestic violence is sickeningly common doesn't mean that even the average man has a "problem" with women in that direction), but the question is valid one.

It's a bit of a minefield, but I suppose that it's because male sexuality is a goal-directed, urgent, state of tension requiring release, and unresolved tension easily turns into anger. Because women have independent wills and usually pretty clear ideas about which men they want to choose, many men spend a lot of time being denied, or in fear of denial. Women's desire can be like that (I'm told!), but most of the time it seems a bit different.

I suspect this is why, historically, most societies - where men have had the power - have tended to accord tremendous power to female sexuality and tried to curb it with clothing, or with concepts like shame. It's men being afraid of their weakness, and their anger, and projecting that fear onto women. Since religion is very concerned with virtue and the avoidance of sin, religious men are particularly fearful of that awesome feminine power.

I dislike the burqa/niqab etc greatly, but in a pluralist society it is a choice that we should leave people to make. By remaining pluralist, I think we have a good chance it'll fade as a choice, much as veils and wimples - which had the same source - have faded from Christian societies since the 50s. Where I differ from the PC brigade is that I think we should be allowed to satirise it as a choice. At the moment I don't think we have that courage.

On domestic violence, I suspect it is often simply because living with another person is the ultimate challnge in dealing with independent wills, and when a man with aggression or self-control problems loses it, it happens to be a woman who is there. Sometimes the kids get it. If it was another man, then another man might get it. The problem is the nexus between anger and violence in men generally, and the self-control problems of many individual men. Sometimes it's also with violent women !

[Pies4shaw]

[stui magpie]

[pietillidie]

[David]

[Mugwump]