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Latest news from Qatar
When in Rome...what? - Dress Code part III
Ok, I know I’m starting to get slightly irritating with this topic, but I do have a genuine healthy obsession with clothes…
So, I came across some post that one of our fellow bloggers in Qatar recently wrote and it pointed me to this http://news.bbc.co.u.... I was shocked. I had no idea that the Muslim traditional dress had been banned in some parts of Europe and that women were being fined when found to be wearing their burqas in public places.
I cannot even begin to explain why I consider that “ roman�said to be dumbest idea. (So, if romans jump from a bridge, do I have to do the same?) I defend everybody’s right to their own identity wherever they are, I believe that diversity is a positive thing, I am certain that the romans would actually beneficiate much more if visitors brought with them their own ways, their own culture, their own identity.
I believe that different cultures can live in harmony and compliment each other.
I fail to understand why the women, why their values. Women are so much more susceptible to discrimination, let them wear what they want, be what they choose to be , behave according to their principles. I fail to see how a simple dress can become a criminal offence. What is it, that these European governments find so offensive?
“Mayor Jan Creemers said he brought it forward (the ban) because old people were afraid and children cried when women started appearing in long black robes with their faces covered�.
Is that it? Because it scares the elderly and the children? Wouldn’t it be better to let our elders open their sometimes- a little-too narrow - minds
Wouldn’t it be better to teach our children about other cultures and allow them to practice some tolerance, which might come useful in the future….?
…What do you think?
I promise this is my last post about dress codes….
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Comments
dweller said
Butterfly, you have opened a ...Butterfly, you have opened a can of worms with this one!
I believe it's much more complicated than you think.
I live in Turkey, a secular state with the vast majority of the population being muslim. We have the same debate and associated problems relative to womens clothing.
Why stop at womens clothing?
I visited the UK at Christmas. Heathrow had no decorations in case it upset members of other religions. Istanbul airport (like Dubai) was decked out in true festive manner. Christmas decorations in the UK are now called "Winter" decorations. Christmas lights are now "Winter" lights.
Nativity plays are no longer allowed in many schools.
Helloqatar said
ButterFly, The only question ...ButterFly, The only question would be if someone can wear what he/she wants in a western country, why can't he/she wear what they want in a Mid East country. I really believe that what you wear is your business, not the government, east or west.
Some governments don't see it that way, they think they are the answer to all life's questions. They can judge what is sexy, or scary.
Being raised in the west there is something a little uncomfortable about someone with a mask/veil covering their face. The only people with their face covered in the west are up to no good.
qd06 said
Yes you have opened a can of ...Yes you have opened a can of worms and here I go.... I grew up in the west also but since 9/11 there has been a attempt to limit the freedom of people how they dress, how they practice their religion or express themselves. The tactics have been through political and cultural means. The use of such terms as fundamentalist, terrorist Nuns cover their head are they fundamentalist/terrorist and the same for priests.
A lot of western women have been fooled to think that the less the dress helps to express who they are. Speaking from a western male point of view most men welcome this because they can see things for free what they would otherwise have to pay for :-)
Ingesu said
First of all, great to know ...First of all, great to know you are here (online) even when you are possibly now far away enjoying life... I do miss you a lot because it is hard to find somebody with a bit of intellectual views left. I guess the heat and the lack of cultural opportunities really affect the mind and soul of most women here!
And second, it might sound over the top, but my kid indeed was so afraid first time he saw 'ladies in black'... now he is used to, and since we have a friend that wears the Abaya as her very own choice (she converted to Islam) he has come to see it as just another way of living. And that is what we have to teach our kids and ourselves: tolerance.
I find ridiculous that in the UK and also in USA some people are starting that 'holiday greetings' and 'winter decorations'... come on, it is really annoying and I will decorate my house as much as I did in the US when the time comes (unless it is against the law, is it? can somebody tell me?). In the US you had all these great explanations about the different festivals over the world and kids grow up with tolerance (at least in theory... please let's not start discussions about the current inmigration debate...)
And as for the Abaya here, I had second thoughs after experiencing the heat, so I am not going to wear it even when I though it would be useful to avoid annoying stares... now I simply don't care, their problem. I mean, I don't wear anything offensive, I would never do even in the west, but now I am back on my bright colors and short sleeves and ignore the guys.
Angelo said
Sorry Ingesu, what "Holiday ...Sorry Ingesu,
what "Holiday Greetings" & "winter Decoration" are you refering to. Any clear question you have?
Please
Angelo
Ingesu said
Ups, a bit later I know but ...Ups, a bit later I know but when you have visitors at home you cannot devote time to computing... Anyway, the decorations I meant were for Christmas, so I will still have to wait to see what happens here. I am a bit dissappointed about the double standards of the country, I will write about it later on, now I got to go... :)
Angelo said
Ingesu, For the past couple ...Ingesu,
For the past couple of years, Dreams Shopping centre - on the Airport road, Naz - in the city, Rameez, Rawnaq (Don't know if the spelling is right) have been selling Christmas decoration from China, also all the hotels get decked up with christmas trees and have a 2 week festival. The city centre where carefour is located have lighted christmas trees, and lighted raindeers etc. etc
Qatar has opened a lot - I suppose.
Angelo
dweller said
It's not been illegal to ...It's not been illegal to celebrate Christmas in Qatar since 1983 (when Christmas was banned).
Things have improved a great deal since those days.
Regarding the abaya. It seems to be more of a fashion statement these days. The bedouins in Kuwait wore it because it retains moisture. The more moisture (and salt) it retains the more effective it is (apparently) in keeping out the heat......so it never gets washed.
Having experienced being in a lift in Kuwait, in the Summer and with 5 or 6 women wearing this garment, I learned to take and hold a deep breath for a very long time.
Ingesu said
Thanks guys! It is good to ...Thanks guys! It is good to know... Nevertheless, I guess everybody does what ever they want. One tries to respect the culture here but I get really annoyed when others (expatriates of course!) don't do it. Today for example, it totally p** me off to see men allowed to go inside 'Funtown' when I had been told earlier on no men can go there- not even kids over 12 years old!! I held a party there and made invitations explicitally explaining that. I am not muslim but have some friends that are. My guests of course were as outraged as I was, realising other party there was having male guests... The staff tried to explain it but it came to the basics: who paid more (I paid QR 40 per kid, I wonder how much the others paid). So, do they care or not about the traditions? Is it possible to 'buy' the space for a male?? Is Qatar really open because they want to be modern or is it all revolving about money? How sad!!