Censored Opus Comic by Berkeley Breathed.

The letters in response are buzzing with observations not only about the comic strip but about the dress code for Muslim women and even the ways American women restrict their dress. Given that women who lived in or around ISKCON also restricted their mode of dress for some period of time, I thought the issue would be relevant to our members.

I of course couldn't resist writing a letter myself.

MerelyMortalMale took exception to my letter and so I had to respond. I think these feminist bashing guys on Salon are too funny. He was practically advocating that American women should cover themselves up because men will be men. Or is that barbarians! And yet he thinks feminists are the ones insulting men! Could anything be more truly insulting to all men than the notion that if women walk around with parts of their body and hair uncovered that men won't be able to control their behavior? I actually have a higher opinion of you guys than that!

Finally, check out http://www.ahiida.com/ where they sell clothing that covers a Muslim woman's body while she does all manner of athletic things.

All I can say is Wow.

On one hand I support them in doing whatever they feel they ought to do for their beliefs.

On the other, as someone who once wore a t shirt and slacks into the pool so I could be modest, I cringe at this.

Makes me feel a little like I have multiple personality disorder.

Anyone else feel this conflict?

I feel the burqini is rather silly. But yes, everyone has a right to do what they want for their own personal beliefs. I am sure people think I am silly for some of mine, too. I don't think that makes me feel like I have multiple personality disorder, it just makes for a live and let live attitude.

I think most of the feelings I have toward anything with the word burqa in it are kind of negative because it has such a taliban type connotation with it. Maybe if they were kind and gentle people I wouldn't have such negative feelings toward it.

Muslim dress code for women, I think, is more about men believing about (other) men that they wouldn't be able to control themselves if they see certain parts of...

...their private property. Because that's what female family members are for them. They are bought for money (to be wives), or they can be sold for good money (if yet unmarried), and it would be a pain in the ass if some guy on the street would "damage it" out of sudden desire. And they can't be sure whether the girls and wives would resist or "cooperate" in such acts, because they are naturally untrustable, or so the Quran says, lacking the neccessary moral sense and intelligence (and because all that binds them to the husband is a treaty between the two male leaders of the families). So best the men can do is to keep them "packed".

And the first part of the consideration even has truth in it... I don't think most of the men are like this (I know I'm not!), but there are dangerous perverts everywhere who can be set off if exposed to such sights. But if the women can defend themselves, or there are others to protect them (ie. no passive tolerance for the offender), I don't see the need of extreme covering.

Actually, an Egyptian imam recently issued a resolution that if a woman suckles a man who is not her family, he will be considered a relative and he can see the woman without veils. I suppose it is the face and hair that should be covered...




I know of feminists with some extremistic programmes... I'd feel threatened by them if I'd have not known that they are a very little radical minority even among the feminists themselves.

I am confused here. You mean a woman breastfeed an adult male or an infant? The sentiment would be sweet if it were a child who would then be seen as family (minus the veil thing) but for an adult male it would just be bizarre.

And you have to believe and follow that otherwise you are really in trouble because the Qu'ran also says: "When the sacred months are over slay the idolators wherever you you find them. Arrest them, besiege them, and lie in ambush everywhere for them." 9.6.
Almost like the Old Testament.

Since nuns have been raped, I don't see that extreme coverings are much of a protection. I think perverts are going to do what they do because of their own internal pressures. It's been well established that they experience a cycle during which the pressure to act out builds up. Then they see a woman who looks like she can't or won't defend herself and attack. Even elderly women have been raped, so it isn't about the attractiveness of the victim, it's about availability and vulnerability. In much the same way, Mahasraya's incidents of violence were far less about what I was doing or saying and far more about what mood he was in and what stress he was under on that particular day.

I agree with you about the notion that women are like property in those societies, property that you do not wish to have damaged or even seen by others. Sort of like those rich folks who buy stolen paintings and keep them hidden, only for their own secret pleasure.

Yet the idea that men will "fall down" if they are too exposed to the sight or sound of women was rampant in ISKCON, and not only related to wives but to how they themselves might react. The best example of this from my own experience were the brahmacaris who couldn't bear the sound of our singing while we made vases, even though we were singing devotional songs, and sent an emissary over to us to ask us to please stop because we were agitating the brahmacaris! This was particularly annoying because making vases for the altar was a several hour process and singing was something that helped make the time go by faster and we loved to do so.

I remember wearing saris in sweltering, humid heat in Chicago or St. Louis while the guys could get by with just their dhoti (though I don't envy them the restrictive underwear, which was just as stupid and worn for much the same reason--restrict that sex drive!).

The only advantage was that one could mop one's forehead with all that excess material.

Don't get me wrong, I think saris are beautiful. I just don't want to be forced to wear one every day of the year.

It was said to be equally true for infants and adults...
And it brought about the rage of more conservative imams, naturally.