The Frightening Muslim Oppression of Women

I have thought much about the reemerging Muslim practice of the hijab in Middle Eastern countries. To understand why this form of dress is oppressive and disturbing, let me explain. The practice of Muslim women wearing a scarf over their head, hair, and neck is an ancient tradition in the Koran, but was only recently revived by a number of totalitarian regimes in the Middle East (most notably, Iran.) Muslim scholars and women who wear the hijab will explain that the reason they cover themselves is an expression of who they are and of their rejection of the idea that physical attractiveness is the way in which women are valued.

In actuality, the reason Muslim women began to don the veil, and why they are beginning to be forced to do so again is an Islamic belief that stretches back far in the Koran. Strict Muslim believe, as Christians also once believed, that due to Eve's causing of Adam to sin the the Garden of Eden, that women were the source of sin in men's lives. Women were to be controlled and mistrusted - being passed from their fathers to their husbands - and were carefully watched in society because of their ability to use their "womanness" to control the poor lusting male. This idea - that women must cover themselves (their hair, neck, wrists, and in some cases their faces) - has reemerged in Muslim societies for this exact same reason. Strict Muslims believe that if a man is allowed to look at a woman, no matter the context, he will be drawn to lust about her in is heart - to sin. The only way to avoid this is, naturally, to force women to cover themselves in public (and not to leave the responsibility on men to control their own feelings.) This is the power and reason of the hijab and burqua - women are evil and cause men to sin - therefore, they must cover their bodies to prevent such deception.

What brings this always disturbing manipulation of Muslim women to light for me is this article in the Times about Islamic Barbies. As you can see, this Barbie comes with a hijab and a prayer mat - just the thing to indoctrinate your little girl into learning how to avoid causing your male neighbor to sin by looking at her uncovered skin.

The hijab, whether women who wear it admit it or not, is a method of control and oppression by fundamentalist Muslim governments. In countries where fewer and fewer women remember what it was like to practice Islam without covering themselves, all we need is a scarf-wearing child doll to teach women that they are evil, sin-causing creatures.

By the way, radical Islamic front organizations, like the Council on American-Islamic Relations is so fearful that their constituents will get wind that they don't support the oppression of women they will Photoshop fake hijabs on women in a publicity photo on their website - even on people that aren't women!

The liberation and empowerment of women in the Middle East is essential - and it is just what the authoritarian power structures there fear the most.