Notwithstanding the conclusions of the Bouchard/Taylor Commission, who proclaimed last year that the ...
Muslim head scarf is no real threat to Quebec values and most women in the province wear it by choice, not out of coercion, ...La fédération des femmes du Québec challenged a recent decision by publicly funded institutions to forbid their female civil service employees from wearing the hijab, or head scarf since it is a symbol of religious adherence.
Yet Sikh bus drivers are allowed to carry ceremonial kirpas and work while wearing their traditional turbans.
The FFQ considers that Muslim women have been singled out for specific discrimination and that this will cause further hardship for those who are immigrants or newly minted citizens.
Others think that fundamentalist, ultra-rightwing, orthodox, radical or conservative religious groups are exploitating the Charter of Rights for political gain. Djemila Benhabib in particular had some very harsh words for the FFQ public position that would allow women to wear the hijab while working as health care practitioner, for example.
Perhaps all women should consider donning a head scarf, worn in the hijab style, for one day as an expression of respect for our Muslim female colleagues who may be obliged to do so, as a sign of devotion to their religious beliefs or who voluntarily choose this symbol of cultural pride.
I'm talking about an organized display of solidarity and not just a snap decision reserved for bad hair days - if you know what I mean?
1 comment:
The FFQ considers that Muslim women have been singled out for specific discrimination and that this will cause further hardship for those who are immigrants or newly minted citizens.This is such a double standard. Men can wear turbans, kufis, yarmulkes, face tattoos etc without such a public outcry.
I'm sick of the mistaken correlation that wearing a hijab = complete subordination to man's will. Only since making "women's rights" a fig leaf of an excuse to invade Afghanistan has this correlation become so pronounced. There were quite a few women employed by the civil service in Ottawa during the 90s who never ostracized for wearing a head scarf.
Post a Comment