Recently some controversy was generated by a video demonstrating the harassment a young woman was subjected to as she walked through the streets of New York. Whereas some focused on the sexism on display, others found covert racism in the awareness-raising campaign.
Now there’s a new version doing the rounds. This time a young woman was filmed twice – first in casual clothes, then in a loose fitting jilbab. It seems that she receives much unwanted attention when dressed in western clothes, but gets left alone once she changes into Islamic dress.
Some on 5Pillarz are seeing this as evidence that women should cover up if they want to escape harassment. This video aside, it is often asserted that the veil does *not* protect women from harassment. However, when I’ve seen this argument being made in the past, I’ve argued that, even if the modest dress did protect women, that fact should not be used to encourage its adoption. Men who bassle women (or worse) are the problem here – i.e. it shouldn’t be the women who have to adjust their behaviour.
Many Muslims repudiate the idea that women should adopt the hijab out of fear. Here’s just one example. However some comments over at 5Pillarz reflect a much more retrograde attitude. In response to a woman who asserts that it is the men who need to change their behaviour Abrar Khan comments.
Nicola Brown no offence but your question is like telling a bull to behave when you show him a red cloth. this is how men are made
Most men, in fact, seem more than capable of not harassing complete strangers, however they are dressed. But if Abrar or anyone else finds this difficult – here’s a tip.
I haven’t noticed anyone point out that the woman in the second video apparently receives no anti-Muslim abuse. But visibly Muslim women do seem disproportionately likely to be affected by anti-Muslim violence or harassment. Back in June Ed Husain caused a stir when he responded to a murderous attack on a woman in Muslim dress by suggesting that it might be safer for women to abandon the hijab.
Loonwatch covered the story here, and I broadly agreed with the concerns people raised about Ed Husain’s tweet.
I don’t think most of us want to live in a country where people are afraid to wear headscarves or other (e.g. Jewish or Sikh) religious head coverings. Of course people should also be free not to wear such garments – either because they don’t believe they are mandated by their religion or for some other reason. But that shouldn’t be conflated with safety concerns.
Whether they are targeted because of ‘immodest’ dress or because they are wearing the hijab or niqab – women should not be blamed for provoking crimes of which they are the victims.
