...the Burka be Banned? A Burka/Burqa is a long, loose garment covering the whole body, worn in public by many Muslim women. The burka is under scrutiny in the United States, as well as other countries, and is getting questioned as to if it should be banned or not. A ban of women wearing a Burka in public would be a morally correct decision. Since the Burka covers the face, as well as the whole body, it poses as a security threat to the public. A woman wearing a Burka may be hiding the tools to carry out an attack of sorts under the clothe itself. The ban on Burka's would satisfy the Utilitarianism belief of 'the greatest good for the greatest number', by eliminating this security threat. The Burka also prevents social interaction between women wearing a Burka and the civilian population. Many people argue against a ban, stating that is just a way of protecting our own people. Those are flawed because banning a burka would also protect Muslim women. If a Muslim woman refuses to wear a Burka, sexual assault or molestation is a justifiable punishment. By banning the Burka, women who choose not to wear it would be protected from being assaulted because of their decision. In conclusion, a ban on the Burka would be a morally correct decision because it would produce the greatest good for the greatest number by eliminating safety threats and protecting Muslim women. Benson, Rod. "Why we should not ban the burqa." . N.p., 8 Sept. 2010. Web. 11 Nov...
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...JJBB[Type text] [Type text] [Type text] Ban the Burqa? The Argument Against ð Jasmine Jaber -‐ 42886090 GEN320 End of Semester Independent Research Project Master of Research Thesis Proposal Jasmine Jaber Introduction The Argument Against 42886090 Over the past few years, the veiling practices of Muslim women have been the issue of public debate and come under direct government gaze. In particular, countries such a France and Turkey have issued a ban on wearing the burqa in public. The ban relates to the general wearing of the burqa and not for certain situations such as identity checks. This debate has spread to Australian soil where dozens of Australians, such as Cory Bernardi, have enunciated their approval and have called for such a ban in Australia. While some countries have similar meaning of the veil, the majority of non-Islamic individuals across Europe and Australia have interpreted the veil in their own way and thus attached to it different meanings causing different perceptions as to why or why not it should be worn. Using the article by Bernardi (2010) as a starting point, I will critique the feeble objections writers of the topic have against the burqa and justify why their reasons for a burqa ban are invalid and cannot benefit society, and if anything, set society backwards. By interpreting...
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...members abstained from voting, so when the bill went to the Senate for a final vote, they already had a seemingly good grasp on the support level they would get if the law were passed. On April 9, 2011, however, a group of 61 protestors against the law had to be taken away in police vans and detained. While the majority of the French population is not affected by this law, a small group of Muslim women (and a pool of potential tourist) are. In 2009, French President, Nicholas Sarkozy made a statement claiming that religious face veils were “not welcome” in France because they goes against the country’s secular values ("French Senate Bans Burqa: Bill awaits President Nicholas Sarkozy’s signature" September 14, 2010). This essentially sparked the discussion and consideration of a banning on religious face veils, namely traditional Muslim burqas and niqabs. The rationale behind the banning is that it not only goes against the countries secular values of equality and dignity, but it also “imprisons women” and causes a safety issue for the citizens of the country (Ristici April 11, 2011). While freedom of religion and religious expression is practiced in France, the law under which the ban exists was passed with the reasoning that it made the nation’s citizen to feel threatened therefore going against the Declaration of Human Rights and of the Citizen, which states that the actions of one individual cannot impede the well-being of another. While the grounds of this law may seem to...
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...Hijab, niqab and burqa The hijab, niqab and burqa are head and full body dresses that are traditional to Islam. While these accessories and clothes have some similarities, there are some differences to be highlighted. The hijab is a veil that mainly covers the head, but also covers the chest. This veil is worn mostly by women who have reached the age of puberty. The veil is usually worn in public or in the presence of males that are not a part of the immediate family. The hijab represents a sense of modesty and it is said in Islam that the hijab also separates the world from God, thus, a divine accessory. While the above is a metaphorical separation, the hijab also has a physical separation, which is said to separate women from men in the public realm. Other than the hijab representing modesty, it also represents morality and privacy. To go even further a little, some women who wear the hijab see this accessory as a part of their identity, connected to their culture and religious beliefs. The wearing of the hijab for many women is a sign of respect and devotion to God as well as their religious belief system. The burqa, also called chadri, is a dress that covers the entire body and it is predominantly worn by women. In some Islamic beliefs, the burqa is suitable for women when in public, because it is a garment that covers their entire body. Differently than the hijab, where hands and the face can be exposed, the burqa includes the veiling of the...
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...Many people never really mean what they actually say. For example, when someone requests for something, there is usually a motive behind their request. (add example). Even writers do this. Some do it to not come across as harsh or cruel if they were to just say what they are meaning to say. These authors hide behind something little in order to avoid the underlying meaning. This is the case for American journalist, Claire Berlinski in her article, Ban the Burqa. Berlinski’s argument is ineffective because she lacks in logos and ethos which makes it clear that she has an ulterior motive behind her purpose of wanting to ban the burqa. Before making such a bold stance on a topic that is meaningful and a symbol of religion to many Muslims, it...
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...Kenan Malik (2010), the author of “Veiled Values”, demonstrates the current condition of banning burqa and how burqa is regarded as a threat to western values. According to Malik’s reference of the book “America Alone”, it imagines that Islamists become dominant in Europe and start forcing others to be veiled. However, in reality, he continues to provide a list of countries and regions that are currently pursuing anti-burqa law and some politicians and philosopher are supporting this action with rhetoric reasons. Malik points out that though fewer Muslim women choose to use burqa today, it is still considered as a potential threat to western value. Then he argues why legislators are so sensitive to Burqa with practical, political and existential...
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...veiling back to the Islamic world, its practice is known to have begun long before Islam. According to Paul, an early Christian writer, veiling was common to all women who chose to pray/prophesize in churches(Tariq 2013, 498). Veiling was argued to have started as a sign of privilege and modesty during early Greco-Roman civilizations, and it served as a way of concealing the erotic parts of the female body. Whenever it comes to the topic of burqas, most would readily agree that it is an item of oppression that reinforces patriarchal control. This opinion revolves around the notion that, women are usually forced by men to wear the garment in certain parts of the world such as Iran, Afghanistan, and Saudi Arabia, and usually due to fear of being beaten, imprisoned, or killed, many of these women submit to wearing it(Auchter 2012, 380). Where some are convinced that the burqa is an “automatic representation of a woman’s submission to a man,” others maintain it has several other meanings( Heider 2012, 94). I strongly believe the burqa should be a personal choice for all women, regardless of where they live and not an...
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...It is a religious garment and act of worship which is not subject to time and therefore, does not become outdated. In fact, the burqa is gaining much popularity in modern societies, especially amongst Western convert women. “My body is my business, and I shouldn’t have to defend what I wear to anyone. The burqa is part of my religion, and the fact that I choose to wear it does not make me any less human.”Ms. Yasmin, 21, Australia While the burqa may appear intimidating to some people, it is not worn with the intention of being threatening or frightening. People are often intimidated by what they have no knowledge of, and the burqa is a piece of clothing which should not warrant fearful reaction. Underneath the burqa is a person simply trying to practise their religion? It is interesting to note that other forms of dress and appearance are no longer considered intimidating, as they have become accepted by the wider community. Tattoos, extremely short dresses, revealing clothes, body piercing and outlandish hairstyles are all examples of this...
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...with you my previous ethnographic study, and my investigations of perceptions of the community of Maryborough, as to the Islamic religion, specifically in relation to the wearing of the traditional Burqa. In this study I wish to identify theories and perceptions of the General Maryborough population regarding this particularly controversial issue, and compare these perceptions to the realities exist within the Religion, as outline by their sacred text. The Burqa, a sacred piece of clothing to the Islamic faith, is worn by women for many deep and spiritual reasons, including to shield one face in public as an act of modesty, or even to display a certain religious devotion to their God, Allah. These particular practices are fairly common in nations that are predominantly Islamic, unfortunately many of which are extremist eastern nations such as Afghanistan, whereby the Burqa is enforced by harsh religious policies legislated by those of higher dictating powers of Authority. This can lead to confusion when this particular practice is introduced into a typical western society, and conflict between belief can occur. In this study we are focusing on the population of Maryborough which I will use as a sample that will give me insight into the Western Worlds perception of the Islamic Burqa. Throughout this particular investigation, the data and analysis of which I both have collected and performed have all been made upon the basis of a single hypothesis. This hypothesis may be seen...
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...EAST IS EAST, MY JOURNEY MY ISLAM, MUSLIM COOL, DEBATING THE VEIL RESPONSE PAPER Islam Despite its huge following around the world and the growing Muslim communities in western countries, Islam is foreign to most westerners who are familiar with Christianity or Judaism. Because most Americans know little or nothing about Islam, they have many misconceptions about Muslim beliefs and rituals. These misconceptions are formed by the media and the lack of research most people do on Islam. There have been many movies and documentaries made to show people the life of a Muslim person and to show people what Islam really is; East is East, My Journey My Islam, Debating the Veil, and Muslim Cool are examples of movies portraying Muslims in a different light. These movies although very different from each other in the way they are portrayed all are out to achieve the same goal, which is to show misinformed people what Islam really is. East is East is a movie about a Pakistani immigrant in the UK by the name of George khan who tries to push his family to abide by his strict Pakistani Muslim ideals. Having an English mother and being born and raised in England, his children see themselves as being English and disobey their father’s rules on how they dress, the foods they eat, religion, and other aspects of life. East is East, portrays Muslim Isolationism, patriarchal authoritarianism, white English racism, and teenage rebellion. The film perfectly explores connections between comic modes...
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...Nov, 10, 2013 The Vogue Magazine and Stereotypes Vogue magazine is said to be the most influential fashion magazine worldwide with the number of 11,265,000 of total audience. 88% of the audience are women, in particular women with above average income and higher education. Even though the pages overflow with glamour and luxury, the magazine is highly appreciated by women with average income, too (Nast,C.). For some Vogue can be a reality, for the less lucky it means the possibility to dream. It is a highly intellectual magazine as well, as it responds to current socio-political issues and promotes the cross connection of fashion and politics. With a vast audience comes great responsibility of those behind the creation and edition of the magazine. After all, fashion is a tool of communication that sets roles and promotes ideas and participates at the formation of its followers. A lot of criticism was ascribed to Vogue as a promoter of unrealistically perfect bodies and flawless visages that reinforce our stereotypes of what beauty consists of and what not. Nevertheless, besides the magazine's promotion of stereotypical beauty, at the same time other stereotypes are being attacked and broken down by the Vogue magazine. Vogue is mainly a collection of photoshopping ads of luxury products and models that do not capture reality but stereotypical representation of women. According to some readers, listing through the photographic essays, one is being transported into a...
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...have a right to place restrictions on religious practices such as clothing worn in public? What would you do if the government placed restrictions on your religious practices such as clothing worn in public? How does society justify punishing some people for practicing their religion because it made others feel uncomfortable? After careful consideration, one may conclude that the government does not have a right to put such restrictions on clothing worn in public. In this piece, we will explore the controversy and debate surrounding this topic in France. Some believe that the government has a right to place such restrictions, while others disagree. According to the article entitled “Unveiling Europe”, the focus is centered on France’s burqa ban. For example, the article states “ an estimated 2,000 French Muslim women are affected by this law.” This enactment in France is affecting Muslim women because they are fined or jailed if they cover their faces in public. “This law has made my life miserable”, Muslim women feel this way because the niqab is a part of their religion and this law is violating there right to freely practice their religion. Another quote that captures the negative impact of this law can be seen where the author states “this law was meant to protect women but it has only imprisoned them instead”, the government believed that men forced women to wear the niqab but most women choose to wear it, Muslim women are forced to stay close to home to avoid confrontations...
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...In conclusion, I preferred Lila Abu-Lughod’s piece over by a very small margin than Ziba Mir-Hosseini’s. This wasn’t because I had some level of difficulty reading Abu-Lughod’s piece which made me look deeper into the piece itself, but because I think even with other groups that aren’t a part of a very mainstream understanding of feminism it’s difficult to work towards benefiting one ascribed status without doing the same for the other. I think Lila really spoke to the issue a lot of women who aren’t Western or European white women, non-heterosexual, able bodied, and so on and it’s the problem of not seeing yourself represented or in need of “saving” that doesn’t look into cultural differences and the differences in how people have to ebb and...
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...Case Case: Its Not a Burqa or Bikini its a Burqini Recently, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Chamber of Commerce welcomed the New South Wales (NSW) Business Women’s Trade Mission, which was led by Kristina Keneally, State Minister for Aging and Disability. One member of this delegation Aheda Zanetti was an entrepreneur who has made waves with her product-the “Burqini.” Zanetti designed and created the Burqini, which is a piece of swimwear that offers the wearer modesty as well as sun protection. lt is becoming a huge hit not only among conservative women, but also with cancer patients, burn victims, and senior citizens. According to Zanetti’s testimony, which can be found on the company’s Website (www.ahiida.com), she migrated to Australia from Lebanon at a very young age. As a young Muslim/Arab girl, she faced many challenges growing up in the city of Sydney. She was an active person and liked to participate in community activities and sport; however, she found herself restricted due to her cultural background and religious beliefs. Zanetti missed out on all the sporting opportunities that Australia has to offer. Her dream was to create a garment suitable for Muslim girls in Sydney to wear while playing sports. She was inspired to design the Burqini after watching young Muslim girls struggle to play netball (which is similar to basketball) in bulky layers. Zanetti decided to create specialized sportswear for the active Muslim woman. Zanetti’s Burqini is a full-coverage swimsuit...
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...women. However, in this paper I will argue that through the white man’s burden, Americans attempt to civilize the supposedly backward countries through saving brown women from brown men, which ultimately leads to a loss of culture and drives a wedge between American women and women from the Global South. Through attempting to liberate women of color from their current conditions through processes such as unveiling campaigns, Americans push these women into forceful acclimation and Westernization rather than liberation. After September 11, 2001, the public representation of Islam has been considered a “threat or potential insurgence to a dominant discourse or regime” (Sheth 457), especially in America. The reason behind the wearing of the burqa has been misconstrued such that “the problematic characterization of the veil lies in the assumption that women should not want to veil unless they are being coerced, under false consciousness, or...
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