The Women inVeils

I recently watched a documentary on television on women wearing a "burqa", a full length Islamic veil that covers not only a woman's body, but her head and face as well. As a woman, I thought to myself what it would be like to be an Arab woman. Then, I instantly felt completely cut off from the world just by the thought of it.

This is just one of those issues that will never leave society because we relate to people through their faces and if you can't read people's faces, then that makes for some separation. The face of a person, apart from clothing, gives us an indication whether they are trustworthy or not.

Although the burqa plays a huge part in the Muslim religion, I think that there would be the feeling of loneliness in the heart that beats inside the black cotton. Human interactions such as a smile or any little acts of communication in everyday life is cut off. I personally think that the veil is an explicit statement of distance and far more than just a religious identity, as much as I respect it.

I know that underneath those veils, many Muslim women wear pretty clothes and colourful makeup-but only sharing it with their close friends and family, inside the safety of their own homes. I also understand that for many of these women, there is a feeling of safety inside these garments, but I find it hard to believe that it can make a woman happy. If being veiled was such a great way to live, then why don't Arab men dress like this, too?

A friend of mine (who does not wish to be named) had just recently removed her veil after years and years of wearing one. She told me that it was simply out of choice and that she decided that wearing the veil wasn't for her. I know that she had gone through extreme difficulty at home, with her parents and with the rest of her family, but I am proud that she stood up for herself and didn't have others make decisions for her. Although it is not common to be veiled in the Philippines, we should sometimes think of how lucky we are in comparison to some societies where women cannot embrace freedom and have opportunities.

This is why I find it impossible to believe that their male relatives have not in fact coerced women who claim that they wear the veil out of choice. I am coming as a feminist who believes in freedom of choice and everything the veil stands for in contrary to this. I can only hope that Arab women would have the courage to confront the veil and make choices based on what they want, not on the decisions of their men.