Doesn't it make you uncomfortable having to see Muslim women forced or brainwashed into wearing hijab/veil

Yes it does make me unconfortable. More so when they say they choose to wear it cuz they're modest etc. They are totally brainwashed! Spouting all this, "we do it cuz we're modest" or "we wanna save our beauty for our husbands" bullshit.

Thats what has been drummed into them.

The fact is that in muslim countries, if they don't wear that stuff, they are ostrasized and acused of being dirty and bringing shame on the family. Then the most dispicable is that if they get raped, they are blamed for showing themselves off too much or letting themselves get raped.

Not all (i'm sure many, esp. the more westernised men, find this bad too) but so many or they men over there are just animals who can't controils themselves, so the women have to take the brunt. Its horrible! And they don't even see it that way (see quotes above)!!!

A girl in brussels got raped for not wearing a veil:

http://islaminaction08.blogspot.com/2008/06/brusse...

Another rape story , because the girl was wearing too realing clothes (under the title 'Rape'):

http://www.amnesty.org.uk/news_details_p.asp?NewsI...

Another example of women 'asking' to be raped:

http://www.theage.com.au/news/pamela-bone/religiou...

The whole thing not only disturbs me but it out rightly discusts me! I wish they would leave their fuct up 'values' on the plane...

Well wherever genuine force and brainwashing are involved, certainly. But when it's the sort of homegrown brainwashing of a family raising its kids, it's kind of a gray area isn't it? I mean, families brainwash their kids into doing lots of things, like going to school, obeying laws, and believing religions. It's not a particularly more sexist standard of modesty than any suggested by fundamentalist versions of Christianity.

With both religions, so long as the woman is free to decide for herself whether or not to wear the veil or otherwise participate in a submissive role within a patriarchal structure, she's not being oppressed. If, however, a woman does not want to engage in such a practice, and for legal or social reasons cannot exercise the choice, then of course I oppose it. Your question, however, presupposes that no woman would voluntarily want to engage in wearing a veil because it matches a personal sense of piety and modesty. While I may not be a religious person myself, I try to respect religion - to a certain extent - in others.

I am sorry that you view wearing the Hijab as brainwashing& oppression. In so doing, you display a level of ignorance(sorry, not personal) of the cultural signficance of this garment. The Hijab is more a cultural thing not religious; even though religion and culture are always very closely tied together.

A woman seeking to cover up is a sign of modesty and not backwardness or oppression as is often portrayed in western media. I have worked in many different countries& the one thing I know is that in the heat of the Sahara or Arabian deserts, you definately need the Hijab or some other covering to survive the exteremities.

In many African and Christian countries, a 'good' woman does not wear tight clothing or clothes as done in many western capitals that leave so much uncovered. So are we to say all these women are brainwashed & oppressed? I'd say not. I respectfully suggest that you seek to understand the real reasons behind people choosing to wear the Hijab or any other things that are not common in your western cities rather than putting the wearers in boxes. Peace.

it the little girls that are brainwashed, this happens from about 5-7 but it must be by 7yrs old. so they have no say, they just getting into hairbands and ponytails and them they are covered uo for the rest of there lives, its mean and oppressive, surly if your faith is so super strong and can stand the test of time, then it should really understand that it is a unessary custom that dosnt fit into modern day living. i personally think it gives off a supressive opresstive and hostility that is also attached to the baggy jeans and hoodies, the ripped jeans and piercings, football shirts and drity baggy clothes, the list could go on, we need to all respect that everybody deserves to do what they want, adjust your mind to that and mabey we will all live in are own little worlds and learn to get on...life is short, so maby we shouldnt really care that much.

I do feel bad for women who have to wear such things that do not want to do so.

But, I also feel bad for women in those "cults" that all wear the same hair-style and skirts to their ankles and long sleeves if THEY really don't want to.

But, it would be wrong of me to assume that they don't want to wear head scarves, hijab or those long dresses just because I don't want to. If they find that they feel closer to their God, or their culture by doing so, why should I feel bad for them.

And I would feel bad for anyone, male or female, Christian, Jew or Muslim that had to do something that they didn't want to because a religious cleric, priest or minister said that they had to.

Not all women are 'forced' or oppressed into wearing it... I have Muslim friends who wear one by choice even though their parents have never told them to.

But the ones who are forced, yes I do feel uncomfortable about that.

This is a really tough one for me. I try to acknowledge and accept everyone's right to choose what works for them.

And I understand that it's about modesty. But if the women have to, why not the men? This just plain confuses me.

I'm not judging people - I just can't get this concept together in my head. It seems sexist. But again - not really my business. People should do what they want to do.

the hijab was originally to stop men from seeing women as they used the toilet (separate facilities would have done them even better)

it has since evolved into a symbol for islam and causing division and strife in societies that attempt to 'tolerate' islam in their nations

if women covering up stops men from being lustful - what is wrong with making MEN responsible for their own actions and NOT behaving in lusty ways towards women whatever they are wearing? unless they are not man enough to control themselves that is?

Actually some Muslim women choose to. In the middle East it's not just religious it is culturally a custom because of the hot sun it protects their skin. Also my freind did it because she thought it was the right thing to do none of her family wears the scarves. Oh by the wayI'm Christian.

Christian women used to wear veils and hats during services too. Some still do. I even heard of a woman that forgot her hat and used a hankerchief to cover her head. Yes it was that important.

Amish and Hutterite women cover their heads with a bonnet.

Many Jewish women cover their heads too. Some used to wear wigs to cover their heads many decades ago.