The Habit of a Habit

June 25, 2007 - 11:00 AM by Stephanie

As long as we’re on the subject of “covering up” (see Hijab entry below), this story by Efrat Shapira-Rosenberg – “Behind the Veil” – questions whether concealed women are succumbing to chauvinism or liberating themselves when cloaked in hijabs or long sleeves, wigs and ankle length skirts.

…I noticed that the girl walking beside me was staring at me and I was mortified when I recognized the look in her eyes. She was looking at me in the same way I was looking at the woman in front of me. Over 30 degrees Celsius and terribly humid, she was wearing shorts and a tank top, while I was wearing a head scarf, two shirts worn one on top of the other in order to cover my arms, a long (and hot) jeans skirt, etc.

“How hot she must be,” she was probably thinking, “How sweaty she must be, how miserable it is to go through the Mediterranean summer like this…”

It’s interesting to read that the person on the other side – man or women, incidentally, because in the most recent sweltering heat I’ve felt for both – is well aware of the pity coming from the scantily clad “other”. It’s also refreshing to note someone’s ability to commiserate with “the other”…

Very good read with eye opening insights.

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