[humpdebump17]

I agree with those of you who've said that you can't compare the two - one is for religious purposes, one is for aesthetic. However, when I first see a woman in a burqa I do always feel a little bit angry, not with them (and I would NEVER be rude or act in a discriminatory manner towards a woman wearing one) but with the custom. I just see it as repression of women. I have seen Muslim women interviewed who say that it is entirely their choice to wear the burqa and they are not being forced, but I'm not sure how true that is. I don't know enough about the culture to know the punishments for refusing to wear one, or not complying to other rules of the religion. If they're happy, fine. My only issue with it is that they might be being forced to wear it, and I disagree in general with the treatment of women in Saudi Arabia. However, if they are genuinely happy to wear it, who are we to say it's not right? It's not harming us in any way.

[laura94]

It's part of Saudi Arabian culture to keep covered up.

It isn't part of British culture to flop everything out.

Isn't that the difference?

[redwalls]

Since when has showing everything you have to offer part of British culture and society? Why is it such a big deal if women don't want to show thousands of people all of their skin and why are they considered abnormal if they're more modest and don't wear mini skirts everywhere?
Your argument lacks a lot of logic really to be honest.

[ash77]

Women should be allowed to wear whateva they,re comfortable with,wonder why others are now deciding wha a woman should wear in which country. But yea since we gotta follow the norms going to saudi evn when we dont wish to.....helpless.But it's amazing how women can wear whatever they wish to in UK whether its a burqa or a mini skirt and still respect the customs & the culture.

[Zerforax]

It's not restricted to just Saudi Arabia - places in Israel, Vatican City/Rome, rural India and China and even places like Utah are more modestly dressed than wearing mini-skirts.

[PopaPork]

(Original post by flibdoo)
It's not about respecting the "customs" or "culture", it's about respecting the taboos. Showing too much flesh (which is not very much at all by our standards) over there is considered immoral. Showing too little flesh is not immoral here.

But covering your face is considered suspicious something only done by criminals and those with nefarious intent

Peace

[vandub]

(Original post by Joe909)
Burqa = Right to religious practice.

Miniskirt = Right to fashion ?

It's not a matter of customs and cultures, I believe that if a Muslim is actually a practicing, good Muslim, they should have every right to practise their religon.

However if they are getting drunk every night, getting pregnant etc they should just give up on their belief and meld with British culture.

That point does not override their freedom to religious practice.

You wouldn't ban a Jewish hat would you ?

It being allowed is nothing to do with it being a religious practice, though, nor should religious practices receive some preferential treatment. The point is we're a liberal country, so, given that wearing a burqa doesn't harm anyone else, it should be, and is, allowed, just as wearing a miniskirt is allowed as it doesn't harm anyone.

[PopaPork]

(Original post by redwalls)
Since when has showing everything you have to offer part of British culture and society? Why is it such a big deal if women don't want to show thousands of people all of their skin and why are they considered abnormal if they're more modest and don't wear mini skirts everywhere?
Your argument lacks a lot of logic really to be honest.

It’s not, but the argument used is basically because they show a little flesh this is as good as them going out naked and as such they have no morals whereas wearing a tent makes the wearer moral

Peace

[ash77]

Its weird how women are now told what they should wear in which country........helpless. Its amazing how a woman can wear whatever shes's comfortable with in U.K whether it's a burqa o the mini skirt and still respect the customs and culture.

[PopaPork]

(Original post by ash77)
Its weird how women are now told what they should wear in which country........helpless. Its amazing how a woman can wear whatever shes's comfortable with in U.K whether it's a burqa o the mini skirt and still respect the customs and culture.

Not true, in our culture covering your face is a no-no

So they are not respecting out culture they are doing the opposite they are saying we can ignore your culture but you have to respect ours

Peace

[Redheaded_Dancer]

Because we're fortunate enough to live in a country that respects other people's rights in what they wear, say or do.
The UK is more liberal than Saudi Arabia I think you'll find, so you're really comparing apples and oranges and also, as a country we don't really have any customs or traditions with regards to how we dress so in wearing a burkha, a woman isn't disrespecting anyone's way of life.
Get a grip! You should take it as a good thing we're allowed to wear what we want.

[PopaPork]

(Original post by Redheaded_Dancer)
, as a country we don't really have any customs or traditions with regards to how we dress so in wearing a burkha, a woman isn't disrespecting anyone's way of life.want.

This is simply not true in this country it is not normal to cover your face as I have said sine the 1600’s this has been seen as something only criminals do (it’s why you can’t walk into a bank with your face covered)

Peace

[ash77]

(Original post by PopaPork)
Not true, in our culture covering your face is a no-no

So they are not respecting out culture they are doing the opposite they are saying we can ignore your culture but you have to respect ours

Peace

It's free will dude for women in U.K whether they wish to wear a burqa cover their faces or wear short outfits, no ones tells them what to wear to respect the culture here. And since when does wearing a Burqa in U.K mean women are not respectin the culture,I'm sure the free will given to them will make them respect the customs and culture neway, women dont have to wear mini skirts or a bikini if they dont wish to... in order to respect the british culture !

[Dmon1Unlimited]

Which is why I'm lucky to have been born here rather than Saudi arabia

[Aoide]

Comparing the burqa and a miniskirt is fine- the reason that you are wearing a peice of clothing is irrelevant. Religious views are an opinion, and aside from the strength of the believers conviction are no different to any other opinions. It is fine to disrespect other opinions but for some reason it has become considered wrong to do the same for religion- it is still an opinion and is only valuable to the believer, don't force that value onto others. Why is their opinion on religion more important than my view on any other topic? Religions don't deserve any kind of special treatment.

[X_mark_the_spot]

(Original post by Ski Bum)
Because we are fortunate enough live in an accepting and inclusive society that allows people to live their lives the way they wish rather than the way the majority or a political elite say they should.

And yet, the rampant islamophobia in the UK suggests that perhaps it's not as liberal as you think. Perhaps there are certain beliefs/practices that are sacrosanct in every society, even if politically correct UK citizens want to deny it in public. People are disgruntled. For example, if some sect was to force white British women to wear something like a burqa, you would get feminist organisations of every stripe up in arms about the oppression, no matter how "justified" this practice was. But change the race and make it middle eastern women, and suddenly it's okay to allow women to be "forced" to wear this garment (because not all of them choose to do so). They're different from us, so it's called liberalism when society turns a blind eye to this oppression. Pfft

Tolerance of intolerance is not tolerance or liberal. It is basically washing your hands of responsibility for a group y ofof women whom people feel are "different" from them, and therefore none of their concern.

[aspirinpharmacist]

(Original post by I am Ace)
WHO, in their right mind would ban a miniskirt?! It's like a skirt, but sexier! I'm pretty sure evem heterosexual women love women in miniskirts. This is unacceptable, for this, I shall protest by putting all the mini skirts in the shop that I work in, on sale! Miniskirts for everyone! Even the flamboyant men...

Some people shouldn't wear miniskirts. It's not flattering.

[aspirinpharmacist]

Because banning the burqa but letting people wear miniskirts would make us just the same as Saudi Arabia. It's the same issue, just inverted. We're taking away peoples right to wear what they want. Punishing someone for showing too little flesh is a ridiculous concept anyhow. You can't ban an item of clothing but claim you're superior to another country just because the clothing you've banned happens to be one which covers your skin rather than exposing it.

[PopaPork]

(Original post by ash77)
It's free will dude for women in U.K whether they wish to wear a burqa cover their faces or wear short outfits, no ones tells them what to wear to respect the culture here.

Ah so you admit they are not respecting the culture just expressing free will. That's OK, just don't try the 'they do respect our culture' line when this is plainly a lie and if they did respect our culture they would not cover their faces.

Peace

[Florrick]

Give an example of respect attached to a clothing here akin to the way the scarf is in Saudi Arabia. Britain's undercurrent runs off individual liberty so there wasn't huge emphasis on a certain dress code to begin with. People were shy to adopt different dress codes because that might look funny, but over the years, since no action has really took to hold and as a result of more migration, increased multiculturalism in certain areas, things have become a lot more relaxed. That also includes the miniskirt. When it was first shown, it did cause some controversy.