11 August 2010

Let's not mistake oppression for fashion choices

.... Every school day in Malaysia, which is a moderate Islamic country, little Muslim girls stand around on school playgrounds at recess. They don't skip. They don't run much. They can't.

The school uniform for girls from more conservative families is a long blue abaya. Many wear white hijabs and are constantly checking to ensure that every strand of hair is kept hidden.

The little girls can't go to public swimming pools. To learn to swim, the only possibilities are to find a female-only facility or to wear a loose-fitting body suit, complete with head covering, called a "burkini." [Vancouver Sun] Read more via [Butterflies and Wheels]