Une autre contributrice de Muslimah Media Watch s’agace des messages qui l’incitent à s’habiller « modestement »
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/mmw/2012/04/what-men-want
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=fPstjtUTsHE
He references women’s fashion in the West as both objectifying and degrading, which, he claims, is easily remedied with the hijab and or modest clothing. These particular lyrics are examples of how the discourse on modesty particularly in relation to the hijab and how it relates to women’s virtuosity and goodness of character is consistently dictated by men. While it is true that designers create ill-fitting contraptions for women to wear often better suited for 6-foot frames and that advertisers pass off skimpiness as a woman’s strength and confidence, the real source of a woman’s strength and character should not be measured by the clothes she wears but by the manner in which she is able to maneuver through the challenges of life with His guidance and mercy. Clothes, whether a hijab or a body-defining suit, are not the whole story, and politicizing the issue of the hijab only takes away from a women’s right to make choices about her private person.
Et elle raconte un incident qu’elle a elle-même vécu dans une banque à Islamabad :
A recent, personal incident further highlights how the discussion of “what women should wear” is decided by men. At a local bank in Islamabad, I was confronted by an older gentleman who proceeded to praise me for my abaya- and hijab- wearing ways. He compared my state of dress with that of a teenager sitting across from me; someone he felt looked vulgar with her long top and skinny jeans and a head full of gorgeous curly hair. I sat through his diatribe, in part stunned and confused – where does he get off saying this to me? I wear abayas on occasion for reasons that are personal and entirely my own. To have someone (and a man no less) praise me for my supposedly, religiously correct choices is both insulting and condescending. Annoyed at the man’s intrusion and judgment, I quickly left the bank. Here I am, being judged for wearing a hijab; ironically, while my intention is to not draw attention to myself, my attire (black, billowy abaya, no makeup and flats) still triggers unnecessary interest. It only underscores the idea that women garner respect and identity based on the extent to which they hide their physical attributes. The woman as an individual is ignored and like in the video, those around her will judge her (negatively most likely) if she does not (for whatever reason) abide by such terms.