The woman's right to uncover vs the right to cover

I wanted to write about why muslim women cover and then I started thinking about all the women who do the opposite and the reasons behind it. By taking a look from "the other side of the fence" the view might be very different..We shouldn't judge the other side so harshly and think what we are doing in the west is the best thing or the other way around.

Why is it that it's regarded as a right if I chose to uncover certain parts of my body, however now that I choose to rather cover them, it suddenly becomes frowned upon and questioned as if I do not have the right to do so as a western "free" woman..On the other hand, muslim women are viewed as oppressed, the image is that they are forced to cover. Isn't the opposite then also true, to be "forced' to uncover is also oppression?

This is a controversial post on a very controversial subject. I'm going to be very blunt and honest here, saying things many people might not want to hear or admit let alone agree with me.. I just want to express my opinion, not offend anyone! Remember this is just my opinion, and the conclusions which I have come to after alot of reading, studying, critical thinking and self reflection. Afterall, it's my blog, if you don't like it then you can just click yourself away :D
I dedicate this post to ALL the wise, beautiful-minded, thinking women out there! I know you exist everywhere!

Women around the western world have the right to UNcover as they please. Most people won't question or look down upon a woman in very revealing outfits. It is considered a right for a woman to undress herself in public if she so wishes.

Think about it. Uncovering, or revealing clothing for women is more than welcomed, it's almost required to show at least some skin. If its not the cleavage, then it has to be something else like the legs, or a at least show her figure in tight or see-through clothing. Flaunt it is the motto of the day. Women in sexy outfits sell us food, deodorant, icecream etc in commercials on tv, in magazines, everywhere!

But why is this? Why do women agree to this? Does it make us feel more beautiful, accepted and secure? Then why is there an increasing amount of depression and other mental illnesses, eating disorders and insecurity among women, especially young women? As women grow older, plastic surgery, botox and the likes become a part of many of their lives. The world is getting more and more obsessed with how women look. Nevermind what they think or feel! In order for a woman to be accepted and valued in the western society seems to be through her appearance. In a way women are forced to uncover and look immaculate, and are thus oppressed. Anything that is forced on anyone is oppression in my opinion.

I see this is as just another form of men controlling women to suit their own pleasure. Undressing women is, lets face it, very appealling for most men. Women are brainwashed to think like this so men can have their pleasure of watching bare skin and feminine shapes, and women are fooled to think they are equal with men because of it! Women think all this displaying of bare flesh in public, media and practically in every media outlet is advancement! How is it going forward?

Women compete with eachother mostly with their looks, not their brains like men do. A beautiful woman is almost always seen as a threat to other women. Beautiful women dont have an easy life, good female friends are hard to find because nearly all women will be more or less envious of her looks. Being beautiful means getting male attention everywhere, this is a self-evident truth. Women tend to get extremely jealous of these women who get all the attention from men. All this because women think her worth comes from her looks rather than the inside. But is this how women percieve themselves, through the men? The more beautiful you are=the more valuable in mens eyes. Respect yourselves women! Respect your bodies whatever the shape and size!

All this jealousy and envy among women leads to even more "competition" who is the prettiest, skinniest, has the biggest breasts, longest hair, best legs or whatever else it is. This is just a waste of time and leads to women being evaluated by their looks, not whats inside their hearts and minds.

Then we have feminists who cry out for gender equality by calling for women to burn their bras and walk to the streets wearing miniskirts. Example from Finland: show up in parliament wearing miniskirt the width of a belt to make a fool out of yourself STATEMENT. Now HOW does this improve womens rights and equality? I think that is just absurd, can someone please explain? A Finnish politician Rosa Merilainen did just that. But what did Rosa achieve by this honorable act against for women's rights? The men in her party started having discussions "in the hallway" out of her sight. She lost all her credibility, and wasnt re-elected.
All this kind of nonsense just makes men laugh into their beards behind our back and in the process they get a nice view. But progress for womens issues? No way.

So lets take a look at covering then, in the western societies it seems to be mostly looked down upon and extensively questioned. Why do you dress like that? What's that rag on your head? Why do you want to look like a nun? Why do you want to spoil all the fun at a party?
The more the woman covers her body, the less she is accepted into society. Her value diminishes as the skin disappears. The most disrespected is the woman who chooses to cover even her face. How dare she?
When you see a woman covered from head to toe, what will you think, honestly? Poor woman, oppressed, miserable, abused, uneducated, backward, no self-esteem? Think again. How about self-respecting, content, independent, brave, satisfied, educated, free-willed? It could be either one or a mixture of both.

Why do women generally not have the right to cover in western world? They have already taken the right for muslim girls to cover their hair in schools in France, and now there has been discussion in many european countries about banning the veil altogether. Ok I understand that for verification of identity it essential. But otherwise, why not let these women cover their faces if they so wish? Its their own choice. The politicians supporting the ban say niqab devalues womens rights. How, since it is their own decision? Banning veiling actually takes AWAY from womens rights. Her right to cover.

First impressions tell us alot about the person we are dealing with. The way we dress plays a major role in how we are percieved by others. I guess everyone will have their own perceptions of what they define as either immodest or modest ways of dressing. That is why defining covering/uncovering is so difficult, its an individual opinion.

My message is this: western women live in a world mostly controlled by men. Why give them the right to control also our bodies and undress us?Why not keep our bodies to ourselves and say, its none of your business whats underneath!!

We CANNOT change the world on an individual level. Even how difficult this is to accept, women will mostly be viewed as some sort of sexual objects. Especially if we dress in miniskirts, revealing tops, microshorts and the likes. I've spent years rebelling, fighting and creating myself anxiety over this. When I realized that by accepting how things are, and trying to change only myself, not the world and the men, things got alot easier.

What we CAN do is change ourselves. Change how we present ourselves and send a message with the way we dress. The message is : I value my body and have the right to cover it as I wish! Respect me for it, dont judge me for it!
I'm not trying to say women shouldn't have the right to uncover. Everyone should do what feels best for them. I just hope this would provoke some thoughts, especially in women.

Neither does this mean I think all women should go around dressed in abayas, "black tents" or cover up everything, I'm all for individuality, moderation and style. But dressing modestly can be done by modern western style clothing also.
That way a woman shifts the focus from her body to herself as a thinking, feeling person. This is the wisdom behind the Islamic dress code for women. By no means is it oppressing, I would rather say LIBERATING from the pressures women face about their bodies being under constant scrutiny.
Take care and cherish your body, because it is beautiful no matter its size and shape. You dont need to display it to the whole world to get acceptance..Not every woman looks like Claudia Shiffer, so Islamic dress code makes women more equal and decreases envy and jealousy.

Try to think out of your comfort zone, try to ask yourself who are you really doing uncovering for?