People often fail to distinguish between culture and religion, two completely different things. They are focusing so hard on how Muslim women are oppressed, specifically because of how women in Afghanistan are treated. When the media shows how Muslim women in Afghanistan are treated people automatically connect three words in their minds; 'Islam,' 'Women,' and 'Oppression'.
Often enough Westerners and more specifically Americans believe that the oppression of Muslim women goes beyond hijab and that her modest dress is believed to be a sign of oppression.
When people see a covered Muslim women the think oppression, and they are actually wrong. A Muslim woman is not oppressed, but she is liberated. She no longer is valued for something as material like her looks or the shape of her body. By covering these things she is makes it necessary for others to judge her according to her intelligence, honesty, kindness, and personality-judging her for who she is not what she looks like.
Lets us discuss the idea of what makes a style of dress oppressive. Oppression is restriction. Restriction can refer to movement, mentality, and for work.
So restriction of movement when it comes to clothing. Have you ever worn a mini-skirt? Tight tank top, skinny jeans? These are NOT comfortable. Why should you sacrifice comfort for beauty? Now try wearing an abaya, a loose fitting dress worn by many Muslim women. The loose fit allows for air flow during hot days, layers during cold days, along with ease of movement.
Second we will look at mental oppression. When we thing of how clothing oppresses us mentally, we can look at how clothing makes us feel. Maybe it is the difference of opinion but I do not feel good having people stare at me. I feel like an object. I am much more than boobs and an ass, much more than my hair style and the shape of my body.
In high school so many kids are scrutinized because of clothing. It defines which 'groups' they belong to. Like what you wear defines you as a person. Didn't you ever notice that the girls who dressed least modestly were the most popular girls while the girls with the most intelligence and often times the best ideas, most originality, and personable were the geeks.
It's just how Western society works.
So, if we want to talk about liberating women mentally, wouldn't it be smart to remove the barriers? Very few women are going to look like the supermodels in magazines, which effects their self-esteem. If you have low self esteem you are less likely to reach your full potential. Sounds a lot like clothing can be very oppressive.
But if I forget about what society wants and submit myself to God, dressing in a way that reflects my respect for him, and myself... You can feel good. You can feel freedom. Freedom from the social oppression. Freedom from the unwanted gazes of immature men who can not control their sexual obsession.
And finally, when we think about clothing restrictions and work... I'm sorry, I do not want to be hired because I have a nice body. Again, objectified by men. Where is your freedom? Furthermore, having to have multiple wardrobes, because obviously you can't wear that tube top and mini skirt to the office, or most jobs for a matter of fact-can be downright expensive. I can wear my abaya anywhere. To any job. I can work anywhere in a dress or skirt. In pants and a modest top.
Society tells us we are oppressed by the way we dress, but maybe they are just to blinded by their own oppression to free themselves from the grip society has on them. Get a clue!
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