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Modest clothes—stifling or empowering?

May 9, 2007
By Hessam Parzivand

When I say I have been to the Middle East and that’s where my origins are, many people ask about Islamic dress codes, particularly for women. Women in the Middle East typically cover themselves with the exception of their face. Any cover beyond that indicates that the woman interprets this uniform requirement more strictly. Men in some Arab countries also wear a uniform of sorts (that’s me pictured and dressed traditionally).

The purpose of these uniforms, in theory, is to make people as equal as they are seen by the eyes of God. Class and wealth cannot be determined by the clothes people wear in the Middle East. Less obvious accessories are the only means of distinguishing class. For men, an expensive watch is a good tip of a person’s wealth. For women, a Prada or Louis Vuitton purse will typically give you away.

The Islamic reasons for covering go beyond the uniform idea for women. The idea that Islam proposes is that covering up keeps the focus on the woman, not her body or beauty. As a person who has been here for over two months now, I have to say that cover does achieve this affect. I’m a 21 year old guy, so it’s a natural fact that anywhere where people are, some of my focus will be diverted to looking at women. Here in the Middle East, I can only admire the face of an modestly dressed Islamic woman, whereas in the United States let’s just say there is a lot more to see. And sometimes there are even things you don’t want to see. Are these distractions from the substance of women? Could it actually be somewhat empowering to wear Islamic dress?

I don’t know the answers to these questions, because interaction between men and women in this part of the world is secretive, or confined to the scope of marriage or family. What I do know from the panty lines and low-cut tops that are observable in any mall in the states, is that American society places too much emphasis on women being “sexy” and not enough on women’s substance.

Comments

Posted by Eva65 on May 9 at 3:31 p.m.

Dear Hessam,
Thank you for your interesting pespective on the differences in Western and Islamic dress. I suggest that, when you are in the U.S. and you encounter a woman dressed in contemporary Western clothing, you look her in the eyes no matter what she is wearing. It may be a challenge, but it will not go unrewarded. You will likely discover a kind, intelligent human being, one of God's children, no matter the dress.

Posted by stick on May 9 at 8:11 p.m.

"The purpose of these uniforms, in theory, is to make people as equal as they are seen by the eyes of God."Since when have women in the middle east been seen as equals. Do you consider women your equal? I can tell you first hand of the brutality of a middle eastern man treating one of his wives as equal. While driving down the highway in Saudi Arabia in 1991 I watched as a "man" dealt his wife (no doubt an equal) a series of backhanded slaps after she looked at us while passing. This, I am sure, is not an isolated case. You blame women for your apparent lack of self control and disguise it with the veil of muslim morality. Next time you see a woman in a revealing, suggestive, or even modest state of dress perhaps consider that she may be intelligent, hard working, honest, law abiding, human being. At least consider her an equal.

Posted by parzivand on May 10 at 2:01 a.m.

I don't argue that women are completely equal in the Middle East although one of my blogs is going to be on the improving situation of women's rights in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia is now the worst case of women's rights abuses in the region, but it is the exception and there is another Middle East that nobody pays attention to that is the rule.

As for my response to the first comment, my advocacy in this blog is a greater focus on the substance of women. If you look at our media, the prevailing concept is "sex sells" This filters into our society in so many horrible ways. There are 12 year olds in our society that are trying to dress "sexy" in what should be an age of innocence. I don't like that. That is what I am adamantly against.

I don't advocate us going to the Middle Eastern example either. What I am saying is it would be nice if the focus would be less on being sexy and outward beauty in our society. My explanation of Middle Eastern society is simply the background that illuminates this point.

By the way, I'm very happy with the commentary on my blog, although negative. If anybody has any particular questions, please comment and I might make that into my next blog.