In Joan Scott’s book The Politics of the Veil she argues that contemporary understandings of Muslims and their place in French society are rooted in a longer history of racism and colonialism that reaches back to the 19th century. The controversies of wearing a veil in France have root causes dating back to French colonial. Scott traces back through time to examine the initial history between these two nations. She addresses the causes through her themes of racism, individualism, secularism and sexuality in which she intertwines to give light on the veil controversies.
The relationship between France and Muslims is one that’s never been that good, which was initially caused by French colonialism in North Africa. France viewed the Muslim/Arab population as an inferior race that was uncivilized. “Those who do not share the French value are not only different but inferior – less evolved, if capable at all of evolution” (Scott 173). France colonizers went to Algeria in an effort to civilize the people, which resulted in the racist treatment of them and the horrific rape and abuse of their women. In addition colonial France saw the veil as dangerous, which at times it could be, because it could transport bombs and weapons to
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destinations unrevealed. The veil would soon symbolize resistance. Scott also states, that wearing of the veil is” a sense of defiance, a refusal of the Western lifestyle and values of colonizers-“(Scott 67) Much like their colonial predecessors, racism toward Muslims still is around, Scott states, “the civilizing process, once the justification for colonialism was now to be applied to immigrants.”(Scott 81). Racism continues to show a presences in the French approach to immigrants, especially Muslims from there former North African colonies. The veil would later symbolized the inferiority of Muslims and much like what there French colonies had tried to do in Algeria, France attempted to “civilize” these people again. French was one of the first to exemplify individualism during the French Revolution of 1789, which replaced a regime based on hierarchies, and granted freedom and equality to individuals. Years later Islamism helped create a threat to French identity with the use of veils. Scott shows how France praises abstract individualism and how it is use as the foundation for citizenship. In addition, some French feminists’ believed that wearing a veil was oppressive to females, being that men are forcing them to wear it. Attempting to civilize female Muslims from their culture through legality is quickly confronted by female Muslims who wear the veil as a declaration of their individualism or self-identity. Scott notes though that these same women are absent from this debate for the most part. Ironically the country that fought for their individualism in the late 18th century was the same who fought to take/repress Muslims individualism from the 19th century on. Secularism is the principle of the separation of government institutions and persons mandated to represent the state from religious institutions and religious dignitaries. Though the word being the same, France uses it much differently than countries like America. Scott states how “In America, home to religious minorities who fled persecution at the hands of European rulers, the separation between church and state was meant to protect religions from unwarranted government intervention.”(Scott 91), and France is “conceived as the truth of French national identity rather than as the ground on which such identity could be negotiated.”(Scott 120). One must consider multiple forms of the word in order to fully engage the most productive/effective system. Scott goes into how historically secularism was meant to keep religions of power from influencing the government and its politics. Though you have France defending their interpretation of secularism, Islamic, which isn’t a powerful religion in France, makes for another excuse for racism. The French’s belief in there superior understanding of sexual equality, is brought into question “abstract individualism that is the basis for French republicanism: if we are all the same, why has sexual difference been such an obstacle to real equality?”(Scott 154).
Being open about sexuality is usually seen as a women’s freedom or liberation, while the veil is seen as something that rejects freedom or liberation. Though some would argue that it allows the women to control or sexuality. “With the rise of prostitution and growing interest in the harem within the colonies, colonizers were frustrated with immutable veiled women who made apparent their denial of sex.”(Scott 60). Thus, aids to the initial resentment toward these veil
women.
In the novel The Scarlet Letter and the short story “The Minister’s Black Veil”, Nathaniel Hawthorne incorporates romantic elements, such as beauty, truth, innocence, and sin, in his criticism of Puritan societies. In both texts, Hawthorne argues that all people, even those in strictly religious societies with corrupted standards, are capable of sin. Hawthorne uses symbolism and light and dark imagery to convey his argument.
For some women wearing a veil is not something that is forced on them but rather a choice of their own. Martha Nussbaum and Maysan Haydar are both authors that try to explain their reasoning that veiling isn't an oppressive tool used against women. Martha Nussbaum's article “Veiled Threats”, is a political and philosophical take on why banning the burqa is a violation of human rights. On the other hand Maysan Haydar’s article “Don’t Judge a Muslim Girl by Her Covering”, is a more humorous and personal take on why veiling shouldn't be as judged or stereotyped. Though Nussbaum and Haydar have equal goals this essay is being used to understand the main argument, claims and whether or not each article has any weaknesses.
The Minister’s Black Veil, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne in 1836, is a parable about a minister, Mr. Hooper, who constantly wears a mysterious black veil over his face. The people in the town of Milford, are perplexed by the minister’s veil and cannot figure out why he insists on wearing it all of the time. The veil tends to create a dark atmosphere where ever the minister goes, and the minister cannot even stand to look at his own reflection. In Nathaniel Hawthorne 's literary work, The Minister 's Black Veil, the ambiance of the veil, separation from happiness that it creates, and the permanency of the black veil symbolize sin in people’s lives.
The author talks about how this was not something that happen overnight, but has been discussed about from a very long time such a 1989. The views of people that the author chooses to look at are Ernest Cheniere, who raised the statement of banning headscarves in public schools in 1994 and Francois Bayrou minister of education in 1994 who saw muslim headscarves as a way of proselytizing. Then Joan Scotts talks about why the timing played into affect, how racism such as colonial legacies were effected, secularism, individualism of the veil, Muslims being looked as threats, how uncivilized Muslim people were, and sexuality. Joan Scotts goes into detail in all the sub topics and shows how does this affect a common Muslim girl that wears a hijab and how does the French government view
"Mishal Husain and the veil: what the Daily Mail was really trying to say." theguardian.com. Guardian News and Media, 8 Oct. 2013. Web. 6 Dec. 2013. .
Back in Iran, she had to wear the veil again. At college, she spoke out against an even more oppressive veil her school wanted to force upon its female students. She ended up designing one that would work for everyone. Even while wearing the veil, Marji and other women would resist the law by letting a few strands of hair show or wearing makeup or nail polish. As Emma Tarlo discusses in her essay, no matter how many laws the government put up, nothing could stop the people from being themselves, veil or not. Still, with this sense of confinement, many Iranian women detested the law, wishing they could have some freedom in what they wanted to wear. Freedom of dress, as Arezou Zalipour discusses in her essay, is both the freedom to wear or not to wear the veil. Despite this, Satrapi focused on how restrictive forced veiling was for herself and many of the women she knew in Iran. In her book, Satrapi explores ideas of freedom and confinement, specifically through the veil she is forced to wear while in her home country; despite this, she and her people found ways to resist this regime, even if some of them had originally supported such a
The religion of Islam was imposed upon Iranians, whether they liked it or not. Marjane and her classmates “...didn’t like to wear the veil, especially since we didn’t understand why we had to”(Satrapi 3). The young girls were against wearing the veil because they were not practicing
The book, Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi documents her childhood story using her own eyes to portray what life is like for an Iran child and their family. During 1980 at the age of ten, Marji witnessed government struggles facing Iran, one of which was the “Veil”. The Islamic government decided this veil would protect women from being raped, claiming that the showing of their hair was to blame of the excitement in men (panel 7, 74). Even though Marji at her age did not understand why she needed to wear this veil, it became obligatory for each female child and women to have them on (panel 2, 3). Although all she knew at home was a more modern way of living, wearing this veil was out of her ordinary scope and left her confused. In American, female children would have considered it some sort of dress up day at school, while dismissing the answer for why it had to be worn. At the same time, that year brought forth more unsettling movements, like the separation of boys from girls. After all some of these boys and girls were best friends and this separation was devastating for them. Ordinar...
There are many stories about the Puritan times and what people now think of them and what they did. Most stories aren’t accurate since no one knows what really happened, or they are just completely made up and trying to make a point. Some of the narratives have similar messages trying to get through. In The Minister’s Black Veil, there is a loved Reverend of the town who decides to do something different. He wears a black veil over his face for the rest of his life, no matter what he doesn’t take it off.
Everyone should be given the freedom of religion regardless. The French secularity principle should be abolished at all costs. This is because it snatches the individuality and freedom of French citizens as well as prevents them from expressing their religious views. The law is not only disrespectful towards Islam, but all religions. Secularity as France presents it is segregating, hypocritical, and disrespectful, and should be immediately stopped. Over the years France has shown distaste towards Muslim females wearing the hijab, or religious headscarf as well as other religious items of clothing such as the niqaab (or religious veil) and the burqa (long coat which covers your clothing). On the basis of secularity many Muslim females have been denied educations, public appearance, as well as citizenship.
There are many different views towards Muslim choice of clothing especially wearing the veil. “I wear it believing it is necessary, but someone else can be wearing it believing that she is doing something extra” said Hamna Ahmed. One of the many reasons a Muslim can be wearing the veil are their own personal decisions too. Hamna has been wearing it for seven years now, despite her mother and three of her four sisters staying uncovered. Socially this causes an issue with the meaning of the veil and conflict with other groups. With many different consumptions of religion, what it means, what is considered to be practicing and what is not can lead to negative misunderstandings. Ultimately the decisions are up to the individuals although; there is likely to be misinterpretation between the meaningfulness of religion to family and society. On an even bigger scale of things this could also impact society and it...
Nathaniel Hawthorne has written many classic books in his time period. Most of his books have some well-written meaning to them. In one of his books The Ministers Black Veil, the message in this story talks about secret sin. Whether or not the main character Mr. Hooper has his own sin or he is carrying the sins of all his people on his back is up to the readers to decide. If it was up in my mind Mr. Hooper is carrying the weight of his own sin, not the people’s sins.
Muir, P. (2013, September 9). France’s hijab ban causing tension | The National. Retrieved November 3, 2013, from http://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/frances-hijab-ban-causing-tension
Women, who are now seen wearing the full faced veil, are issued with a fine on the spot, are expected to take a citizenship course and if authorities find out that a male is oppressing a woman to wear the burka, then he himself is put into prison. This new law prevents Muslim women in France to not only wear the full faced veil but also the head scarf which is more common than the burka which was their choice alone and now they do not have the right to make a choice. Franco - Muslim leaders in France view this new law as a form of discrimination. "To raise the subject via a parliamentary committee is a way of stigmatizing Islam and the Muslims of France," said Mohammed Moussaoui, head of the French Council for the Muslim Relig...
When outsiders view the hijab what they see is something mysterious and unfamiliar. They do not understand the reason behind wearing it. They look at a Muslim woman and her fully covered body and see something rigid and restrictive. In their culture, for a woman to wear what she likes with no restriction is the norm and having a certain dress code to put up with is considered to be restraining. A woman’s body is seen by non-Muslims as a great art that can be displayed and hiding it means being unappreciative to that art. Furthermore, when outsiders look at the scarf tied around the Muslim woman’s head, they see something oppressive and backward. They believe that the headscarf is forced on girls and women to oppress them and deprive them of their fundamental freedom. It is also considered to be backward due to the fact that it is not in the same fashion line with the rest of the western clothing. Outsiders look at the long, black, abaya and see something unbearable to wear. In their understanding, having to wear such a long and dragging cloth is intolerable; wearing sh...