Layalina Productions, Inc. | The Layalina Review: "Lifting the Veil on Women's Struggle"

The Layalina Review

VOL. V NO. 14, June 19-July 02, 2009

Lifting the Veil on Women’s Struggle

Women’s rights are threatened and meddled with by powerful men all over the world, says Katha Pollitt for The Nation. Though US President Obama did not address the issue for as long as many feminists would like, his speech in Cairo was “basically fine” in Pollitt's opinion.

"I reject the view of some in the West that a woman who chooses to cover her hair is somehow less equal," Obama said in Cairo. "Good," Pollitt responds, but a woman being forced to cover her hair is far more common, especially in the Middle East.

In most of America's actions and policy statements in the region, the issue of women’s rights has been touted as a top priority. No one could say that universal suffrage and political equality with men is not a rational expectation for a 21st century society, but there is a flip-side to all this. The hardships of women in the West today are not rooted in the law so much as in the subtleties of the institution of gender.

In a recent article, Gulf Times claimed that while the West sees Muslim women as slaves to their hijabs or burkas, women are slaves to their appearances in those places where coverings are not forced onto the female population. The news site reports that despite the liberation of women in many countries, “a woman’s worth is still tied to her level of physical beauty which is still considered her greatest asset and one to be exploited in the worst way.” Thus, many women see covering up as a way to prevent the objectification of their bodies.

Unfortunately, a happy medium has not yet been reached in most places. Where in much of the Middle East there is no alternative to covering up, in Europe, conservative women are punished for it. Asharq-Alawsat tells the story of Mahinur Ozdemir, a recently-elected member of the Belgian Parliament, who is of Turkish descent and has worn a hijab her entire life.

The news site reports that although she won the support of her constituents, she may be forced to resign from Parliament because headscarves are not allowed in the chambers.

“I am concerned about the future of every female candidate who wears Hijab and wants to run for parliament because that person will face major challenges and difficulties,” said Sofia Bouarfa, a fellow Belgian Member of Parliament.

To the west of Turkey, a far more publicized war is being waged against what Muslim women see as their right to dress as they choose. CNN reports that Nicolas Sarkozy, President of France, has set his sights on outlawing the burka and may even succeed in banning it from the country.

CNN adds that since 2004, all forms of headscarves have been forbidden in France’s secular schools. “This is an issue of a woman’s freedom and dignity. This is not a religious symbol. It is a sign of subservience; it is a sign of lowering. I want to say solemnly, the burka is not welcome in France,” said Sarkozy after announcing his new plans for how France’s Muslim women shall dress.

In a country with nearly 6 million Muslims, French legislators will have to tread lightly lest their efforts in favor of women’s rights backfire.

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