Posted by Cathy Taggart Even before this current controversy, I’ve often thought it must be hard for migrants who come from a culture which demands very modest standards of dress for both men and women, and where sex is a strictly private matter, to adjust to a Western society where we have, perhaps, gone a bit too far in the opposite direction. Blatant sexuality is thrust at us from every direction, it seems – on TV, in magazines, newspapers and advertising brochures, even walking through a shopping centre you’re confronted by large pictures of women in scanty clothing or even underwear! As for the idea that traditional Muslim clothing demeans women: perhaps the full veil with only the eyes showing (I forget its Arabic name) is a bit excessive, but here in South Australia at least you rarely see women dressed like that. The traditionally-dressed women here I keep hoping some enterprising fashion “guru” will come up with a design which integrates the traditional Muslim style of dress in a way that would be acceptable to modern Westerners. It could be just as attractive as the present fashions – and probably a lot more comfortable! Cathy. P.S.: I really enjoyed looking at the photos of your 60th. birthday celebrations, Kevin. I’d love to know what those two young girls were whispering about! I’ve got a card I’ve been meaning to send you, but somehow I’ve never got around to it – I might yet send it! Anyway, belated happy birthday wishes to you, Kevin.
on November 3, 2006, 6:38 pm
The controversy over the comments made by Sheik Taj Aldin al Hilali shows no sign of subsiding. I haven’t been able to work out exactly what the Sheik said, or what he intended to say, but this incident certainly indicates the problems which arise when people from very different cultural backgrounds try to co-exist. If Sheik Hilali did mean that women themselves are to blame if they’re raped, his comments should certainly have been criticized. However, I wonder if people new to our culture may have thought the outcry was excessively vehement, the reason for the vehemence being, I suspect, that not so very long ago our society suffered from a “blame the victim” mentality, so this issue is still a very sensitive one for us. (I hope I explained that adequately – I’m certainly not suggesting the outcry was unwarranted!).
usually have long garments and veils which leave the whole face showing – their outfits are often brightly coloured and the veils embroidered or beaded. I find I almost envy them – no matter what age or size they are, almost any woman dressed like that can look beautiful. On the other hand, to look good in Western fashion you really need to be young, and you certainly need to be slim. Is it any wonder that anorexia is a problem among young women?
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