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gcintheme-blog · 7 years

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Liberal Feminists: Either the Hijab is a Choice or It Isn’t.

There was a controversy a couple months ago that I found very funny. Keep in mind, I live in Iraq where murdering a your daughter because you think she had sex is guaranteed a limited sentence legally. So partially I think addressing this is silly. Another part of me thinks Western liberal feminists and Western Muslims need to hear this.

So a few months ago, Vogue released its first Vogue Arabia edition with Gigi Hadid on the cover. There are definitely annoying things about this magazine. The editor of Vogue Arabia at the time (who is now changed) was Deena Abdulaziz who is literally a princess in Saudi Arabia. Walking around in fashionable Western clothes and editing a magazine about a lifestyle that maybe 5% of Arab women can afford while the Saudi royal family is committing crimes against women, Yemeni people, and religious minorities in the Gulf is really obnoxious. I don’t like this magazine and I don’t think it accurately represents the average Arab woman at all, though it isn’t meant to.

I had this entire post formatted with pictures, but probably because of my bad internet connection they’re not working. So, here is a link to the cover of the magazine and here is a link to a photograph inside with Gigi Hadid and her hair covered.

Almost immediately, as they do, the liberal feminists started saying angry things about the images. I had saved some screenshots and again added them here, but tumblr is not allowing me to use photos, so here is a link to a Buzzfeed article with some tweets.

Now, let’s clarify some things about Gigi Hadid. Her father is a Palestinian Muslim who moved to the United States when he was a child. Her sister Bella has said she is “proud to be a Muslim” and that her father “was always religious, and he always prayed with us.”

Here is a photograph of the Hadid sisters protesting Trump’s Muslim ban in New York City.

So these accusations of Gigi Hadid “not being a Muslim” are not completely true. It seems she does has a Muslim family background and was raised (at least partially) in the religion. She is also not completely politically inactive on behalf of Muslims or Arabs as these people are claiming.

She cannot “appropriate” Palestinian or Arab culture because she is Palestinian-American, and the last time I checked, political activity is not required to have an ethnicity. Neither is walking into every room and saying “I am X ethnicity” to warn everyone if you want to do something cultural.

I don’t want to focus too much on Gigi Hadid though, because this post isn’t about her as a person. It is about the contradictions and hypocrisy of liberal feminists regarding the hijab.

Liberal feminists and Western Muslims shout, very loudly, that the hijab is a choice. They love to shut down any criticism of the garment by condemning those who criticize that choice. I’ve never said and I don’t believe that women should be forced to wear or not wear something. I will defend the right of women to wear or not wear what we want to around the world. We’re subjugated no matter what we wear, though differently in difference places. Wear what you want. Make your own choices. Just don’t expect me to defend everything you do or call it empowering because you, a woman, decided to do it.

So, if the hijab is a true and free choice then why are liberal feminists criticizing Gigi Hadid for choosing to wear it? Either it is a choice that women can make at will, or it isn’t. You can’t have it both ways. Once you start drawing limits on women who can and cannot wear the hijab, you remove your argument that it is a woman’s choice to cover or not cover as she chooses.

Now, I understand the annoyance with your religious garment being used on the cover of a hyper-capitalist magazine. Like I’ve already said, I’ve got a lot of problems with an elitist publication like this. However, once you say that wearing the hijab is a choice, and demand criticisms of that choice to be silenced, you have also lost your ability to criticize others who make that choice.

If it’s really a choice, then Gigi Hadid’s motivations don’t matter. Nothing about her matters. If someone has the true free will to make a choice and we respect that choice, then we don’t have the luxury of examining her motivations.

If you believe women should be allowed to do something because they have a bodily right to it, then you cannot place stipulations on that choice. For example, you cannot call yourself “pro-choice” regarding abortion for women if you think that abortion should only be permitted under some circumstances or some motivations. If abortion is really the choice of the woman, then it should be completely irrelevant if she was raped, if she is married, if she cannot afford a child, or if she just does not want to carry that pregnancy. Her choice is her choice and once you put requirements or stipulations with that, you remove the choice.

If the hijab is truly a choice, and a choice that women make freely and must be respected for, then it cannot matter whether they cover in order to please God, or their families or communities, or whether they feel it’s culturally important, or whether they’re afraid of getting attacked, or whether they’re trying to sell magazines.

If the hijab is a personal decision, then it doesn’t matter who does or does not wear it, or why. You cannot place arbitrary rules on the practice but then demand the rest of us go along without examining them. As soon as you say that other women must wear the garment for certain reasons, or must make a certain commitment to wearing it all the time, you are admitting that it isn’t an open choice. If your clothing is a personal choice then its meaning can only be important to you. The actions of other people cannot change that.

It’s wrong that women who wear the hijab are “attacked, shamed, and threatened” in some parts of the world. It’s also wrong that women who don’t wear the hijab are attacked, shamed, and threatened in other parts of the world. And, it’s wrong that women are attacked, shamed, and threatened for wearing clothes that reveal certain parts of their bodies. It’s wrong that women are blamed for being raped if they are wearing revealing clothing just as it’s wrong to blame a hijabi for an attack on her because of her clothes.

But, we see revealing clothing on magazines and advertisements all the time. Where are the comments on how strippers and prostitutes are shamed for what they wear? Where are the comments on how women dressing like that and walking alone would be attacked, and then blamed for the attack? Where are the comments on how women could be arrested or even killed for dressing like that in some parts of the world?

If the hijab can be “liberating” and “empowering” just like wearing showing skin can be (according to liberal feminists) then you cannot have the double-standard. Either women should be unquestionably celebrated (or at least left alone) for how they dress, or they should be open to criticism for how their clothing reflects on other women and the state of society. Either women can wear the hijab as they choose, or they can’t. You cannot have it both ways.

You also cannot use the phrase “actual hijabis” without admitting that there is some set of rules and requirements for wearing the hijab, and therefore it is not a free choice. I am assuming here an “actual hijabi” is a woman who always covers in public or when there are men around who are not part of her family, which is the commonly-accepted obligation. A free choice cannot include such a limiting and un-free ultimatum.

Again, if women must wear the hijab on all of these occasions (which are importantly male-centric) in order to wear it at all, then wearing the hijab is not a choice. If women cannot set their own conditions for how, when, and why they choose to cover then you admit that the hijab is not a complete choice but a set of social requirements that must be specifically followed. If the hijab is a choice, then there can be not set of requirements to make that choice legitimate.

To the hijabis who insist they wear the hijab as a personal choice and do not criticize other women for their personal choices: good for you. I do support your choice to wear what you want (though I don’t consider this empowering) and I hope you can support me in doing the same.

But you need to realize that Gigi Hadid is not a threat to you. I am not a threat to you. Women who criticize sexism within cultures that demand women dress a certain way are not a threat to you. Patriarchy is the threat and by refusing to acknowledge this patriarchy and its effects on how women are forced to behave in society, you are enabling the threat.

I live in Iraq, where women who remove their veils can be beaten to death by their families, and the government allows this. Part of my country is occupied by ISIS, which requires women to cover head-to-toe and rapes, enslaves, and murders women who don’t follow every rule or their specific type of Islam. My country borders Saudi Arabia and Iran, where women are forced to cover and sometimes even stoned to death for “adultery” if they are raped.

To me, the hijab is a symbol of extreme patriarchy, the possession of women, male violence, jealousy and domestic control. I fear every day that as political Islam grows in Iraq, I might be forced to legally cover tomorrow. In some parts of my country I have to cover to blend in or I could be raped or killed.

And still I defend your right to wear it. I might question your motivations for doing so, but I don’t believe that the hijab is a free choice. I don’t think most things that we as women do are free and uninfluenced choices away from patriarchal control or immune to criticism, including many of the things I do. In a patriarchal system, the choices we do have are still subject to that patriarchy and we should examine them, the same way in a capitalist system, the choices we do have are still subject to capitalism and we should examine them. We don’t have to like patriarchy or capitalism to acknowledge they influence us.

Either the hijab is a choice, or it isn’t. If you want the right to wear it without criticism, you must give every other woman the chance to do the same thing. If it is really a personal choice, then what the rest of us do with it should not change its meaning for you. If you don’t want me to question that choice for you, then you can’t question it for other women.

#iraq #hijab #criticism #feminism #gender critical #gigi hadid #vogue arabia #womens rights #middle east #patriarchy

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presssorg · 5 years

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Ilhan Omar: The 9/11 row embroiling the US congresswoman

Ilhan Omar: The 9/11 row embroiling the US congresswoman A Democrat congresswoman says she will not be silenced after facing a barrage of criticism over comments she made about the 9/11 attacks - including from Donald Trump. The US president tweeted "WE WILL NEVER FORGET" alongside a video showing footage of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks spliced with a speech by Representative Ilhan Omar. "Some people did something," she is seen saying, in between footage of planes hitting the Twin Towers and people fleeing the buildings. Republicans have accused her of downplaying the attacks, but Democrats have largely rallied to her defence, saying she had been quoted out of context and some accusing Mr Trump of inciting violence against her and Muslims. Here is how the row developed.

Who is Congresswoman Omar?

Ms Omar won a representative seat for Minnesota last November, becoming one of the first two Muslim women ever elected to the US Congress. Her family originally came to the US as refugees from Somalia and she is the first congresswoman to wear the hijab. Despite being a newcomer to Washington, this is not the first time Ms Omar has made headlines. She has been accused of anti-Semitism over comments she made about Israel and pro-Israel lobbyists. After being rebuked last month, including by Democrats, she apologised and said she was "listening and learning". The congresswoman has also raised the alarm about anti-Muslim rhetoric surrounding her, in response to a Republican poster that showed her alongside the Twin Towers. Just last week, police arrested a 55-year-old man in New York state for allegedly calling her office with a graphic death threat in which he reportedly labelled her a "terrorist". Who is US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar? 'I'm a Muslim who voted for Donald Trump'

A Democrat congresswoman says she will not be silenced after facing a barrage of criticism over comments she made about the 9/11 attacks - including from Donald Trump.

What did she say?

The "some people did something" quote was from a speech Ms Omar gave to civil rights group the Council on American-Islamic Relations (Cair) on 23 March. In the 20-minute speech she discussed issues affecting the community like Islamophobia and the recent mosque attack in New Zealand. The comments in Mr Trump's video were taken from a point she made about the treatment of US Muslims in the aftermath of the 11 September attacks: "Here's the truth. For far too long we have lived with the discomfort of being a second-class citizen and, frankly, I'm tired of it, and every single Muslim in this country should be tired of it. Cair was founded after 9/11 because they recognized that some people did something and that all of us were starting to lose access to our civil liberties." After the Washington Post fact-checked the statement to clarify Cair was actually founded in 1994, a spokesman for Ms Omar told the paper that she misspoke and meant to say the organisation's size had doubled after the attacks.

How did the row develop?

Her speech began getting attention on 9 April, when a clip was shared by Texas Republican Representative Dan Crenshaw, who described her phrasing as "unbelievable". Conservative media outlets, including Fox News, then started discussing it in-depth. Ronna McDaniel, chair of the Republican National Committee, described the congresswoman as "anti-American". Skip Twitter post by @GOPChairwoman Ilhan Omar isn’t just anti-Semitic – she’s anti-American. Nearly 3,000 Americans lost their lives to Islamic terrorists on 9/11, yet Omar diminishes it as: “Some people did something.” Democrat leaders need to condemn her brazen display of disrespect.pic.twitter.com/k3meEbUOAk — Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) April 9, 2019 End of Twitter post by @GOPChairwoman Ms Omar responded by describing some of the comments as "dangerous incitement, given the death threats I face" and comparing her remarks to ones made by former President George Bush. On Thursday, the New York Post published a front-page spread of an image of the attack with the headline: "Here's your something" The cover proved divisive. Some on social media praised it, but others heavily criticised the use of 9/11 images. Then, on Friday, President Trump posted the video of Ms Omar. It is currently pinned to the top of his account and has been shared tens of thousands of times.

What was the response?

Many social media users responded by using #IStandWithIlhan - which trended worldwide on Twitter on Friday. CNN showed the clip in discussions, but then presenter Chris Cuomo apologised for airing it. MSNBC host Joy Reid also refused to show it. A number of high-ranking Democrats, including many in the running for the 2020 presidential nomination, have come out to criticise Mr Trump and defend Ms Omar. Elizabeth Warren accused the president of "inciting violence against a sitting congresswoman". Skip Twitter post by @ewarren The President is inciting violence against a sitting Congresswoman—and an entire group of Americans based on their religion. It's disgusting. It's shameful. And any elected leader who refuses to condemn it shares responsibility for it. — Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) April 13, 2019 End of Twitter post by @ewarren Bernie Sanders referred to "disgusting and dangerous attacks" against Ms Omar. Skip Twitter post by @BernieSanders Ilhan Omar is a leader with strength and courage. She won't back down to Trump's racism and hate, and neither will we. The disgusting and dangerous attacks against her must end. — Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) April 13, 2019 End of Twitter post by @BernieSanders Senators Amy Klobuchear and Kamala Harris both accused the president of spreading hate. Skip Twitter post by @amyklobuchar Someone has already been charged with a serious threat on Congresswoman Omar’s life. The video the President chose to send out today will only incite more hate. You can disagree with her words—as I have done before—but this video is wrong. Enough. — Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) April 13, 2019 End of Twitter post by @amyklobuchar Skip Twitter post by @KamalaHarris For two years, this President has used the most powerful platform in the world to sow hate & division. He's done it again. Putting the safety of a sitting member of Congress @IlhanMN at risk & vilifying a whole religion is beyond the pale. I'll be blunt — we must defeat him. — Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) April 13, 2019 End of Twitter post by @KamalaHarris Kirsten Gillibrand did not defend Ms Omar's comments but also called Mr Trump's rhetoric "disgusting". Skip Twitter post by @SenGillibrand As a Senator who represents 9/11 victims, I can't accept any minimizing of that pain. But Trump's dangerous rhetoric against @IlhanMN is disgusting. It’s a false choice to suggest we can’t fight terrorism and reject Islamophobic hate at once—a president should do both. — Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) April 13, 2019 End of Twitter post by @SenGillibrand Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, said Mr Trump was wrong to use the images but also suggested Ms Omar had been dismissive of the attacks. Skip Twitter post by @SpeakerPelosi The memory of 9/11 is sacred ground, and any discussion of it must be done with reverence. The President shouldn’t use the painful images of 9/11 for a political attack. — Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) April 13, 2019 End of Twitter post by @SpeakerPelosi One reply to Ms Pelosi, by film director and frequent Trump critic Ava DuVernay, which said Ms Pelosi's comment was "not enough" has been liked thousands of times. Rashida Tlaib, the other Muslim serving in Congress, and another Democratic Congresswoman, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have both called on senior Democrats to do more to support Ms Omar. Skip Twitter post by @AOC Members of Congress have a duty to respond to the President’s explicit attack today.@IlhanMN’s life is in danger. For our colleagues to be silent is to be complicit in the outright, dangerous targeting of a member of Congress. We must speak out. “First they came...” pic.twitter.com/ygOX1vhE9j — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) April 12, 2019 End of Twitter post by @AOC Skip Twitter post by @RashidaTlaib Enough is enough. No more silence, with NY Post and now Trump taking Ilhan’s words out of context to incite violence toward her, it’s time for more Dems to speak up. Clearly the GOP is fine with this shameful stunt, but we cannot stand by. — Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) April 12, 2019 End of Twitter post by @RashidaTlaib Skip Twitter post 2 by @RashidaTlaib They put us in photos when they want to show our party is diverse. However, when we ask to be at the table, or speak up about issues that impact who we are, what we fight for & why we ran in the first place, we are ignored. To truly honor our diversity is to never silence us. https://t.co/7T1OlwS1YG — Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) April 13, 2019 End of Twitter post 2 by @RashidaTlaib Responding directly in a series of tweets on Saturday, the congresswoman thanked people for their support and vowed that she "did not run for Congress to be silent". Skip Twitter post 2 by @IlhanMN Thank you for standing with me – against an administration that ran on banning Muslims from this country – to fight for the America we all deserve.💪🏽 — Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) April 13, 2019 End of Twitter post 2 by @IlhanMN Published at Sun, 14 Apr 2019 01:21:47 +0000 Read the full article

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toldnews-blog · 5 years

Photo

New Post has been published on https://toldnews.com/world/ilhan-omar-the-9-11-row-embroiling-the-us-congresswoman/

Ilhan Omar: The 9/11 row embroiling the US congresswoman

Image copyright Getty Images

Image caption Representative Ilhan Omar is at the centre of the row about comments she made about 9/11

A Democrat congresswoman says she will not be silenced after facing a barrage of criticism over comments she made about the 9/11 attacks – including from Donald Trump.

The US president tweeted “WE WILL NEVER FORGET” alongside a video showing footage of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks spliced with a speech by Representative Ilhan Omar.

“Some people did something,” she is seen saying, in between footage of planes hitting the Twin Towers and people fleeing the buildings.

Republicans have accused her of downplaying the attacks, but Democrats have largely rallied to her defence, saying she had been quoted out of context and some accusing Mr Trump of inciting violence against her and Muslims. Here is how the row developed.

Who is Congresswoman Omar?

Ms Omar won a representative seat for Minnesota last November, becoming one of the first two Muslim women ever elected to the US Congress.

Her family originally came to the US as refugees from Somalia and she is the first congresswoman to wear the hijab.

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Media captionThe women who made history in the mid-terms

Despite being a newcomer to Washington, this is not the first time Ms Omar has made headlines.

She has been accused of anti-Semitism over comments she made about Israel and pro-Israel lobbyists. After being rebuked last month, including by Democrats, she apologised and said she was “listening and learning”.

The congresswoman has also raised the alarm about anti-Muslim rhetoric surrounding her, in response to a Republican poster that showed her alongside the Twin Towers.

Just last week, police arrested a 55-year-old man in New York state for allegedly calling her office with a graphic death threat in which he reportedly labelled her a “terrorist”.

Who is US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar?

‘I’m a Muslim who voted for Donald Trump’

What did she say?

The “some people did something” quote was from a speech Ms Omar gave to civil rights group the Council on American-Islamic Relations (Cair) on 23 March.

In the 20-minute speech she discussed issues affecting the community like Islamophobia and the recent mosque attack in New Zealand.

The comments in Mr Trump’s video were taken from a point she made about the treatment of US Muslims in the aftermath of the 11 September attacks:

“Here’s the truth. For far too long we have lived with the discomfort of being a second-class citizen and, frankly, I’m tired of it, and every single Muslim in this country should be tired of it. Cair was founded after 9/11 because they recognized that some people did something and that all of us were starting to lose access to our civil liberties.”

After the Washington Post fact-checked the statement to clarify Cair was actually founded in 1994, a spokesman for Ms Omar told the paper that she misspoke and meant to say the organisation’s size had doubled after the attacks.

How did the row develop?

Her speech began getting attention on 9 April, when a clip was shared by Texas Republican Representative Dan Crenshaw, who described her phrasing as “unbelievable”.

Conservative media outlets, including Fox News, then started discussing it in-depth.

Ronna McDaniel, chair of the Republican National Committee, described the congresswoman as “anti-American”.

Skip Twitter post by @GOPChairwoman

Ilhan Omar isn’t just anti-Semitic – she’s anti-American.

Nearly 3,000 Americans lost their lives to Islamic terrorists on 9/11, yet Omar diminishes it as: “Some people did something.”

Democrat leaders need to condemn her brazen display of disrespect.pic.twitter.com/k3meEbUOAk

— Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) April 9, 2019

End of Twitter post by @GOPChairwoman

Ms Omar responded by describing some of the comments as “dangerous incitement, given the death threats I face” and comparing her remarks to ones made by former President George Bush.

On Thursday, the New York Post published a front-page spread of an image of the attack with the headline: “Here’s your something”

The cover proved divisive. Some on social media praised it, but others heavily criticised the use of 9/11 images.

Then, on Friday, President Trump posted the video of Ms Omar. It is currently pinned to the top of his account and has been shared tens of thousands of times.

What was the response?

Many social media users responded by using #IStandWithIlhan – which trended worldwide on Twitter on Friday.

CNN showed the clip in discussions, but then presenter Chris Cuomo apologised for airing it. MSNBC host Joy Reid also refused to show it.

A number of high-ranking Democrats, including many in the running for the 2020 presidential nomination, have come out to criticise Mr Trump and defend Ms Omar.

Elizabeth Warren accused the president of “inciting violence against a sitting congresswoman”.

Skip Twitter post by @ewarren

The President is inciting violence against a sitting Congresswoman—and an entire group of Americans based on their religion. It’s disgusting. It’s shameful. And any elected leader who refuses to condemn it shares responsibility for it.

— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) April 13, 2019

End of Twitter post by @ewarren

Bernie Sanders referred to “disgusting and dangerous attacks” against Ms Omar.

Skip Twitter post by @BernieSanders

Ilhan Omar is a leader with strength and courage. She won’t back down to Trump’s racism and hate, and neither will we. The disgusting and dangerous attacks against her must end.

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) April 13, 2019

End of Twitter post by @BernieSanders

Senators Amy Klobuchear and Kamala Harris both accused the president of spreading hate.

Skip Twitter post by @amyklobuchar

Someone has already been charged with a serious threat on Congresswoman Omar’s life. The video the President chose to send out today will only incite more hate. You can disagree with her words—as I have done before—but this video is wrong. Enough.

— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) April 13, 2019

End of Twitter post by @amyklobuchar

Skip Twitter post by @KamalaHarris

For two years, this President has used the most powerful platform in the world to sow hate & division. He’s done it again. Putting the safety of a sitting member of Congress @IlhanMN at risk & vilifying a whole religion is beyond the pale. I’ll be blunt — we must defeat him.

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) April 13, 2019

End of Twitter post by @KamalaHarris

Kirsten Gillibrand did not defend Ms Omar’s comments but also called Mr Trump’s rhetoric “disgusting”.

Skip Twitter post by @SenGillibrand

As a Senator who represents 9/11 victims, I can’t accept any minimizing of that pain. But Trump’s dangerous rhetoric against @IlhanMN is disgusting. It’s a false choice to suggest we can’t fight terrorism and reject Islamophobic hate at once—a president should do both.

— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) April 13, 2019

End of Twitter post by @SenGillibrand

Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, said Mr Trump was wrong to use the images but also suggested Ms Omar had been dismissive of the attacks.

Skip Twitter post by @SpeakerPelosi

The memory of 9/11 is sacred ground, and any discussion of it must be done with reverence. The President shouldn’t use the painful images of 9/11 for a political attack.

— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) April 13, 2019

End of Twitter post by @SpeakerPelosi

One reply to Ms Pelosi, by film director and frequent Trump critic Ava DuVernay, which said Ms Pelosi’s comment was “not enough” has been liked thousands of times.

Rashida Tlaib, the other Muslim serving in Congress, and another Democratic Congresswoman, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have both called on senior Democrats to do more to support Ms Omar.

Skip Twitter post by @AOC

Members of Congress have a duty to respond to the President’s explicit attack today.@IlhanMN’s life is in danger. For our colleagues to be silent is to be complicit in the outright, dangerous targeting of a member of Congress.

We must speak out.

“First they came…” pic.twitter.com/ygOX1vhE9j

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) April 12, 2019

End of Twitter post by @AOC

Skip Twitter post by @RashidaTlaib

Enough is enough. No more silence, with NY Post and now Trump taking Ilhan’s words out of context to incite violence toward her, it’s time for more Dems to speak up. Clearly the GOP is fine with this shameful stunt, but we cannot stand by.

— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) April 12, 2019

End of Twitter post by @RashidaTlaib

Skip Twitter post 2 by @RashidaTlaib

They put us in photos when they want to show our party is diverse. However, when we ask to be at the table, or speak up about issues that impact who we are, what we fight for & why we ran in the first place, we are ignored. To truly honor our diversity is to never silence us. https://t.co/7T1OlwS1YG

— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) April 13, 2019

End of Twitter post 2 by @RashidaTlaib

Responding directly in a series of tweets on Saturday, the congresswoman thanked people for their support and vowed that she “did not run for Congress to be silent”.

Skip Twitter post 2 by @IlhanMN

Thank you for standing with me – against an administration that ran on banning Muslims from this country – to fight for the America we all deserve.💪🏽

— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) April 13, 2019

End of Twitter post 2 by @IlhanMN

0 notes

lydiakirtoncop2 · 6 years

Text

A comprehensive timeline of men telling women what to wear

2016: BANNING THE BURKINI On the 28 July, 20 towns in the south of France decided to ban the ‘burkini’ and force Muslim women on beaches to remove their headscarves along the coast. Photos emerge of armed police surrounding one woman and forcing her to undress on the beach in front of hundreds of strangers, and protests take place all over the world in her defence. 2014: ISIS EXECUTES WOMEN NOT WEARING THE NIQAB WITH GLOVES Reports emerge from Iraq where ISIS claimed responsibility for stoning women to death because they weren’t wearing gloves with their niqabs.

2009: WOMEN ARE ARRESTED FOR WEARING TROUSERS Thirteen women – including journalist Lubna al-Hussein – were arrested in Khartoum, Sudan, because they wore trousers in public. Ten of the women were punished with a fine of 250 Sudanese pounds, and received ten lashes. Lubna was fines $200, but not flogged.

1998: AN ITALIAN JUDGE LETS A RAPIST WALK FREE BECAUSE HIS VICTIM WORE TIGHT JEANS When a 45-year-old driving instructor was accused of raping an 18-year-old girl in 1992, he was convicted and sentenced. Then six years later, the Italian Supreme Court overturned the conviction – because his victim was wearing tight jeans. The defence argued that she must have helped the instructor remove her jeans – making the act consensual. The Italian Supreme Court said ‘it is a fact of common experience that it is nearly impossible to slip off tight jeans even partly without the active collaboration of the person who is wearing them.’ 1979: IRAN REIMPOSES THE HIJAB The Islamic Revolution in Iran overturned the liberal laws that had been enforced over the last 40 years, and women were suddenly forbidden from appearing in public without a headscarf. Counterintuitively, this ruling was actually celebrated by many women – simply because they could leave the house for the first time without the objection of their husbands and fathers.

1942: WW2 RATIONING BRINGS ABOUT RESTRICTIONS ON WOMEN’S CLOTHING While men’s clothing remained the same, the USA introduced ‘Regulation L85’ which set skirt lengths at 17 inches above the floor – no longer, and no shorter. At the same time, material for swimwear was restricted – so swimming costumes become smaller as a result. Within two years, the bikini had made its debut – but came accompanied by a the rule that women shouldn’t show their belly buttons. 1936: IRAN BANS THE HIJAB Iranian ruler Reza Shah made it illegal for all girls and women to wear the hijab in public, as part of a quick succession of liberal laws inspired by leaders in Afghanistan and Turkey. But the law was met with resistance from the religious majority, and many husbands and fathers began to forbid their daughters and wives from leaving the house so that they wouldn’t have to remove their headscarves.

1919: LUISA CAPETILLO IS SENT TO JAIL FOR WEARING TROUSERS Writer and activist Luisa Capetillo from Puerto Rico argues publicly that women should have the same rights as men. After wearing a man’s suit in public, she was sent to jail – although the judge eventually dropped the charges against her and set her free.

1890s: ANKLES ARE OUT. AND, ER, SO ARE TABLE LEGS… It was decided in the UK that women must cover their whole bodies in public – necklines were raised to just below the chin, and hemlines dropped to below the ankle. Diagrams were released to clarify what length of skirt was suitable for what age (four year old girls could wear dresses to just below the knee – but girls of 16 must wear dresses to the arch of their foot. Legs of wooden tables were covered up too, because they apparently resembled women’s legs. Which is insulting to say the least.

1800s: WOMEN GET POCKETS FOR THE FIRST TIME For the first time in British history, women’s dress patterns were allowed to include pockets. Until now, if women had access to money (which was significantly less often than men), they’d had to cut slits into the sides of their skirts. Sure, they could reach through to access two hanging drawstring pouches which they suspended on a belt underneath their dress, but it was considered vulgar for a woman to hide her hands (unless they were wearing gloves). Men, meanwhile, had pockets since the 1600s. And they worked just fine, by the way.

1600s: RICH WOMEN ARE MADE TO WEAR HIJABS Historians argue that during the Ottoman Empire and across the Middle East, male scholars began producing huge volumes of Islamic scripture and legal works to regain the patriarchal power that they’d lost in the centuries following Muhammad’s death. As a result, the hijab was deemed representative of female modesty and piety – while also symbolising the upper class. Poorer women, who worked as labourers, were able to avoid wearing it because of its impracticality while farming – meaning that ‘a veiled woman silently announced that her husband was rich enough to keep her idle.’

1550s: ‘THICK WAISTS’ ARE BANNED FROM COURTS IN FRANCE Those attending courts in France were forced to wear corsets made out of wood or whalebone – with guards checking upon entry. Laced tightly together, women worked to attain the smallest waist possible – often aiming for 14 or 16 inches. The trend soon spread overseas, and most women continued wearing them up until the 19th century.

1056: WOMEN IN GERMANY AREN’T ALLOWED TO WEAR SILVER, GOLD, OR PRECIOUS STONES Unless they’re married to a knight. Obviously.

900AD: CHINESE WOMEN START BINDING THEIR FEET In one of the cruelest fashions for women throughout history, women in China began being made to bind their feet during the sixth century. Seen as a symbol of beauty, legend has it that the Emperor at the time saw the dainty feet of one of his favourite courtesans, and enforced a ruling that all women in his court must make their feet tiny and curved too. The practise continued until 1949.

627AD: THE HIJAB IS IMPOSED FOR MUHAMMAD’S WIVES Originally, the word ‘hijab’ could mean ‘veiling’ or ‘seclusion’ – but it only became enforced when Muhammad began entertaining increasing numbers of male visitors in the mosque where he lived. The visitors would often sleep metres away from Muhammad’s wives’ quarters – so a ‘hijab’ was imposed to keep the women separate and ‘safe’ from the men. For a long time, historians believe that the phrase darabat al-hijab (donning the veil) was synonymous with ‘being Muhammad’s wife’. Wearing the hijab only entered the public sphere centuries after Muhammad’s death.

44BC: LAWS ENFORCE WOMEN’S CLOTHING As the Roman Republic transitioned into the Roman Empire, the whole toga-versus-stola thing became official, as a law was passed that officially forbade women from wearing the toga under any circumstances. At the same time, women’s rights were decreased. Again, just a coincidence.

200BC: MARRIED WOMEN ARE MADE TO DRESS DIFFERENTLY In Ancient Rome, women were made to start wearing a floor-length, modest gown called the ‘stola’ as soon as they were married. Up until this period, women had been allowed to wear the toga, just like men, but after 200BC it was considered ‘disgraceful’ for a woman to dress the same way as a man – and was often associated with prostitution or infidelity. Oh, and if you’re into facts – the Statue of Liberty wears a stola too.

400-500BC: MODESTY IS IMPOSED – KIND OF Nobody is completely certain why breasts suddenly started being covered up in Ancient Greece, but sculptures from that time show goddesses hiding their chests behind their hands, or dressing in over-sized, flowing robes that hung loosely over their upper bodies. Amazingly considering today’s approach to the female body, many paintings from this era still show women’s genitalia and upper thighs – although this eased off towards the turn of the millennium. Interestingly, as women became increasingly covered up, so Greece became an increasingly patriarchal society – as women were made to stay at home under the control of their fathers and husband. But clearly that’s just a huge coincidence.

1500BC: BREASTS ARE EVERYWHERE Historians reckon that women only began to cover their breasts in public about 3500 years ago – when men decided they were private, sexual body parts that needed to be tucked away. Prior to that, artwork from the era suggests that women were able to wander around topless without anyone batting an eyelid. Even during the days of Ancient Egypt, historians believe that women could choose whether to cover their breasts or not – often opting for elaborate dresses and designs that would leave one breast exposed. Read more at http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/reports/timeline-of-dress-codes-men-telling-women-what-to-wear-295043#2Sx8WwAsQ30rYypj.99

#http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/reports/timeline-of-dress-codes-men-telling-women-what-to-wear-2950432Sx8WwAsQ30rYypj.99

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New Post has been published on Titos London

#Blog New Post has been published on http://www.titoslondon.in/this-designer-gave-a-fitting-reply-to-a-troll-who-thought-sari-represents-hindu-value/

This designer gave a fitting reply to a troll who thought Sari ‘represents Hindu value’

The designer found him self in a fix when a user accused him of polluting Hindu Culture, a sari with a hijab. (Source: designerayushkejriwal/ Instagram) Top News

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When it comes to Indian wear, there’s nothing as beautiful as a sari. But do you think the six-yard wonder is limited to one particular country or religion? If you are baffled then read on.

UK-based designer Ayush Kejriwal, who is known for his opulent and colourful Indian ethnic wears and saris recently uploaded a picture of a model wearing a hijab along with a sari on Instagram. Posting the photo he wrote, “Hijabs are very stylish!”.

In his post, he even clarified that it was his first time working with a hijab and he did not intend to hurt anyone. But in an age where people are irked with almost everything, someone on social media took offense. Kejriwal found himself in a fix when a fellow Instagrammer accused him of polluting Hindu culture. A user wrote, “Don’t pollute our beautiful Hindu Culture with suppressive Islamic elements. Saree represent Hindu values. [SIC]”.

But Kejriwal decided to fight back. He not only replied to the ugly message but also posted a photo of the conversation and said that he will not tolerate any “discrimination, bullying, religious hatred, abusive and offensive comments.”

Talking exclusively to the IndianExpress.com, Kejriwal clarified why he decided to fight back. ” I have had some comments made in the past on other subjects, but I am good at ignoring such things. As an artist criticism does not bother me, though sometimes it’s important to fight back such prejudice and that’s exactly what I did in this instance,” he said in an email interview.

He strongly believes an artist goes about doing what they believe is right and are not here to adhere to rules. “They make their own,” he says.

He also believes that fashion can do more. he says, “It’s true that my page is centred towards clothes and styling but I feel style has a much bigger voice than it has been recognised. It can change the world by helping change mindsets.”

The post is now going viral, where most people are applauding the designer for taking a stance.

The user who tried to shame the designer has been blocked now. When asked what will he do if history repeats itself, the designer said, “I will challenge them once to deter them and hope that will help raise awareness. If that does not stop them I will have no choice but to block them!”

For all the latest Lifestyle News, download Indian Express App

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AAmy JonesJun 21, 2017 at 11:56 pmEven if guilded in gold and gems, Hijabs/burkas represent women oppression..Ghoonghat/parda represent women oppression…women, especially m0slim women should stand up and join the mainstream. Get educated and end this male supremacy and dominance !!Reply

RRaj ParwaniJun 21, 2017 at 11:25 pmMy salute to you Kejriwal, good people like you need to stand for this nonsense spread of hate. If good people don't fight back then these haters will ruin the world by their hate. See what they did in USA by putting Trump in the office and what they did in UP by putting Yogi in the office.Reply

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