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 …show more content…
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
The documentary “Young, Muslim, and French” brings attention to the islamophobia that is going on in France. In September 2004, the French government passed a law banning religious paraphernalia in schools, especially targeting head scarfs. The government claims this was a way to “end extremism”. The school system believes that there is no place for religion in school, and around the young in their formative years. The veil is an expression of their devotion to Islam, not a symbol of terrorism. Not wearing it contradicts their religion and even jeopardizes their place in heaven, and puts a great amount of stress on Muslim students. Which results in the French education failing to properly teach and support these students. Muslim students are thrown off the education path and often study to become electricians and other technical careers. Girls are forced to choose between practicing their faith and receiving an education.
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
The Gothic writers were known for their dark and mysterious works that gave chills down their reader’s spines. How were they able to evoke these feelings just by their writing alone? In short story “The Minister’s Black Veil”, Nathaniel Hawthorne paints a story using the strong literary element of symbolism and frightening vocabulary to help project an eerie tone.
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
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.
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...
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.
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.
Olivier Roy, discusses the relationship between French laicite, and Islam, and how laicite is essentially an obsession with religion. This obsession leads to the desire to legislate about religion instead of accepting true separation. In terms of Islam, laicite singles out Islam as a religion which is not compatible with French ideals. As mentioned before, secularism has become an ideological tool in the rise of anti-Muslim discourse. Islam is viewed as a threat to French national unity, and identity, as it encompasses practices which are deemed “wrong” by French principles. It assumes the expression of religious and cultural practices are forms of extremism. France has been a witness to atrocious terrorist attacks, and the fear of the population is used by political discourse to shape public opinions and values that marginalize minorities. These opinions and values stereotype Muslim minorities and creates a view of them as outcasts. It assumes that those who are not willing to adopt French values, are not French, and that if they are not with them, they are against
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
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 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
"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. .
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...
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...