Acts of Defiance by Veiling the Face

With more and more research on face veiling throughout history, I have come to a few important conclusions about this particular veil. One, the veil is usually always restricted to women. Two, veiling ones' face is not an Islamic tradition alone nor is it solely unique to the Near East. Three, the Ibrahimic faiths such as Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are not the only ones who have people practicing face covering.  Four, forcing women to unveil is just as oppressive as forcing women to veil. Fifth, Confucianism has veiled women's faces in Korea and forced women in China/Korea to remain in seclusion.

The only real literary mention of face covering comes from the Old Testament in the Bible. Where Tamar wore one, but there are numerous scholarly works written by Rabbis and Christian priests/monks over hundreds of years on this particular meaning. All concluding that the face veil isn't negative and even Martin Luther stating that German women covered their mouths as well (which they did).Which brings us to the other point, Northern European women at one point did cover their face. Either in widow hood or in art work but Even Catholic women wore black veils to cover their faces in mourning.  Heck, British women and European women wore elaborate hats to cover their hair to wearing something that looks more like the modern hijab.

A German women

If the niqab has been in various parts of history throughout the world then why do we suddenly hate it? It might be because now the face veil or the niqab is often associated with Islam and Islam is often associated with negative emotions in Western thought. The negative emotions that Westerners feel towards Islam predates the Gulf War, 9/11, Iranian hostage situation, Afghanistan, or terrorism but has its roots settled in 700s. Stereotypes have hardly changed, nor have the misunderstandings of the religion. Now, I'm not saying there isn't misunderstandings of Muslims when it comes to Judaism, Christianity, Hinduisim or etc, because there is. However, the fact the West has had a grudge for the majority of its history towards the "Orient" is quiet fascinating and frustrating. No one wants to acknowledge that their prejudice or racist views have been deeply ingrained in our Western culture.

Many Colonists texts show that middle-class Europeans who traveled in the 1800s throughout the Near East encountered women walking on the streets covering their faces while on day to day tasks. These women were stopped or had their veils ripped off by Europeans who just wanted to see what the savage women looked like. These Europeans felt they should have every right to see them. They felt that they were saving these women from Islam, from their harems, from their men. In unveiling them, then the women could be more European, after all it was the Colonist's duty to make sure their colonies followed their pure clean culture. Make note though, just because they wanted the people to follow European or Western ways does not mean they are equal.

Many women didn't enjoy face veiling, as its obvious many women gladly got rid of the face veil. A hijab is different than the face veil, many women prefer it over the latter. It should be noted that one of these reason women don't cover their faces has to do with more with the prejudices of others while they wear it. Women who choose the niqab can rarely find jobs; and many are barred from an education such as in Quebec or France. Even some Islamic countries prevent women who choose to wear a face veil or hijab from getting any sort of employment. While its obvious that a niqab and other styles of veiling can be dangerous depending on a particular job, do need to be banned.

The fact is, the preventing of women from gaining an education or job isn't progression, it is a direct link to the sisamatic attack on women's rights to cover themselves. We can say a Black woman chooses to become progressive because they buy whitening cream, a hair straightener, wigs, or white western clothing and banish their natural hair/ blackness to blend in. Even these black women aren't accepted into Western society fully, even the Uncle Toms, because the problem isn't about black women's hair or her skin. The more black people who choose to accept these Western terms and blend in, the more likely they are to get a job or a better house or a bank loan. It doesn't however prevent them from getting murdered on the street by cops or by others. If the prejudice didn't happen that would mean they are equal, its better for the others to look like the Western ideal than to be equal.

The problem the West has on the face veil isn't that it covers the face. It's that the Western mind feels that it has the right to see and touch whatever it desires. To the Western male, he should be allowed to see those leaked sex video of that untouchable celebrity woman, he should see the naked girl on the street, he should see her hair, he should see her with makeup but also without makeup, and he should be able to touch whom ever he wants. Even if society often frowns upon rape or molestation, it still promotes it through Ads, movies, and tv channels. It is forever true when people continually touch black hair or rip off a scarf, why are they mad? Why would the veiled women cry, after all we saved her? Why does the black woman get upset with her hair being touched...it's just hair.

It's funny though, Westerners love to be individuals, but yet they love to practice conformity. Even when you go to Forever21 and buy that floral top that looks so different, your still fitting into a mold. Your buying what's in fashion this season this moment. You buy the same cut of fabric that Susan has. You don't wear those long jeans during the summer, not because you get too hot (your inside all day after all) but because society has deemed summer clothes must show skin. Other wise how can you get cool, or be fashionable? You fit into the mold whether you have decided to buy crystals or go to Coachella. It is Society that deems what you can wear, regardless if you are aware of it or not. Your choice of sweater or scarf, might get looks if it doesn't fit the mold but it still doesn't get you attacked. Your bright hair color might prevent you from getting a great job but it won't get you killed. Your choice in Wicca might get frowned upon or socially marked as different, but it wont get you deported or barred from entering the country or prevent an education.

The niqab, hijab, or black hair are symbols beyond themselves to the world. The person who is choosing to go natural might be doing it because her hair is unhealthy, but it Western attitude she is doing it to oppose the already made category placed for her. The hijab wearer may choose to wear the hijab because she is too lazy to keep putting it back on every time she prays. The niqabi woman chooses to cover her face because she might feel more secure or confident with people while she wears it, but Western society sees an oppressed woman, a woman who needs saving from her self, a terrorists.