I don't see the problem, if women want to wear veils then they should have every right to do so. I don't think it is an oppression, not really a demonstration of faith either, just a requirement of the religion. As for the patriarchal part, I think the Islamic requirements upon men's appearance are equally harsh.
The best attempt to argue against the veil seems to be that "terrorists could wear one." I wouldn't even call this an argument, a suicide bomber would draw more attention wearing one than not. I cannot think of one example where a terrorist used a veil in an attack on "Western" soil. Furthermore the argument could be applied to so many instances, "terrorists could dress up as women, lets ban transvestites." Another argument works on the idea that it is hard to communicate with someone when you cannot see their face. Such people must think that one can tell whether or not someone is lying to them from their facial expressions. Personally I find communicating over the Net or the phone as acceptable as in-person and if people find it hard to communicate to veiled people the best option is not to. Finally there are those (men) who say the veil is intimidating. How grown men can be intimidated by veiled women I don't know. I'm sure those veiled women have better reason to feel intimidated by skinheads, with piercings all over their faces, walking up to them but I don't see them demanding skinheads and piercings be made illegal. |