The reason, why I said full burqua implies oppression is that as a teen, I knew 3 muslim girls at school and only one wore it willingly. My friends mother was forced to wear it by her in laws dikat in spite of the fact that she had a serious case of Vitamin D deficiency. That was the first time I had ever heard of Vit D deficiency in a tropical country, I was unaware of such a possibility. My friend’s mother was asked by the doctor to walk inside her compound in the sun for half an hr each day atleast. This was shot down by the in-laws cos there were high rise buildings all around and people could look down and see her in all her unveiled glory. If that is not taking away a woman’s choice, thaen what is? Dress codes where prescribed by religions can often be easily twisted and misinterpreted by people to serve their various ends. That is why women are forced to cover up or in cases of my religion widows re shorn of the hair and forced to wear white. That is oppression and exploitation of women in the name of religion. I am not pointing fingers at muslims only, I don’t like women being forced into a decision in any culture in the name of religion. Take this for example: Health Effects of Islamic Dress - WikiIslam Science, medicine and technology was no way as developed where our religious “edicts” were given. What about this: IndiaAmong the Muslim population in India, the burqa (Hindi: बुरक़ा, Urdu: بُرقع) is common in many areas[SUP][9]](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burqa#cite_note-Popular-9)[/SUP]- old Delhi, for example.[SUP][10]](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burqa#cite_note-India-10)[/SUP] In the locale of Nizamuddin Basti, the obligation of a woman to wear a burqa is dependent on her age:[SUP][11]](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burqa#cite_note-Nizamuddin-11)[/SUP] young, unmarried women or young, married women in their first years of marriage are required to wear the burqa.[SUP][11]](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burqa#cite_note-Nizamuddin-11)[/SUP] However, after this the husband usually decides if his wife should continue to wear a burqa.[SUP][11]](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burqa#cite_note-Nizamuddin-11)[/SUP]Psychology and Health
By restricting women’s mobility, purdah results in the social and physical isolation of women . [SUP][27]](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purdah#cite_note-27)[/SUP] Lack of a strong social network places women in a position of vulnerability with her husband and her husband’s family. Studies have shown that in conservative rural Bangladeshi communities, adherence to purdah is positively correlated with risk for domestic violence Source:Wikipedia. What about case in Kashmir where women had acid thrown at them for venturing out of their houses unveiled? A women’s choice is taken away in most cases. If a woman wants to dress in a particular way cos of her religious belief out of her own free will, then it is fine but in majority of the cases women are forced to conform. Just as forcing a women to parade around in minimal clothing is exploitation of the worst kind, so too is the other end of the spectrum.
the real oppression of women takes place in the west. The porn industry is a billion dollar industry. It is for the most part a western phenomenon. Yet if you actually take the time to look into the industry youll see that they are told what to eat, how to look etc etc and basically have thier lifestyles dictated to them. Who is the porn industry geared towards?? Men.
Nicely written (as always). Point about widows in Hinduism shows oppression exists in various forms in different religions. I wish you had provided more examples from Hinduism - such as wife burning for dowry, widows being sign of bad shagunam. Thus marginalizing the very existence of widows. No women priests. Women during period cant be touched.
