Blondes- to dye or not to dye? & women's wear, women's safety etc

capt_mahajan · May 2nd, 2008, 13:21

There is a place in Hyderabad where a lot of burqa clad women cross a busy road- there is a Muslim women's college nearby.

I have two problems with that, a) can't see the pretty ladies and b) can't see which direction they are looking at when they go hither and tither about six feet in front of my moving car.

sannna · May 2nd, 2008, 13:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by capt_mahajan

There is a place in Hyderabad where a lot of burqa clad women cross a busy road- there is a Muslim women's college nearby.

I have two problems with that, a) can't see the pretty ladies and b) can't see which direction they are looking at when the go hither and tither about six feet in front of my moving car.

Hey.. I think I know exactly what road you are talking about! I don´t recall the name of the street, but I am sure youre talking about the same

My instinct tells me that there is big time inequality going on when women have to cover up and men don´t, but at the same time I can imagine that it must be very nice to not have the men stare at you all the time. So I can also imagine that the women mihgt feel it is their free choice to some extent.
But then, the activist in my tells me that they should go out and fight mens attitutes and reclaim the steets instead of hiding in cloth....
Difficult..

kristinm · May 2nd, 2008, 14:14

Here, where we've recently had a bit of anti-muslim terrorist type rubbish going on, many young teenage muslims are taking to the hijab - not the full burqa - as a political and cultural statement.

It's the hotness of the whole thing that I'd hate, but then I live in an area with many orthodox jews and the women wear thick wigs and not a burqa but covered with thick clothing all over even in the middle of summer.& they can't swim at the beach. They just look so hot and bothered.

Its funny actually - there are some women's baths at Coogee beach where Muslim women, Jewish women and Nuns as well as other women swim...for all the differences there are such similarities too. must make for interesting conversation!

federica · May 2nd, 2008, 15:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by sannna

My instinct tells me that there is big time inequality going on when women have to cover up and men don´t,

This would be a nice idea: instead women who have to cover up men have to wear something in their face that makes them at least half blind

Oh, the naughty feminist in me comes up....

capt_mahajan · May 2nd, 2008, 15:13

then will it be the half blind leading the half blind?

Kingstonian · May 2nd, 2008, 15:28

Capt - you ever visit London? I've seen young Muslim women here wearing the hijab, and high-necked but tight tops and jeans - makes me laugh, the way they subvert both the "English" conventions, and the "Muslim"!

capt_mahajan · May 2nd, 2008, 15:41

I am afraid I have visited some fish and chip places and a lot of pubs in London, and not much more.

Much to my wife's disgust, who goes to the museums and art galleries and such stuff.

I must go out more, the East and West mix sounds interesting

kristinm · May 2nd, 2008, 17:48

We get the same here - its kind of cool.. and they really have attitude too!

wonderwomanusa · May 3rd, 2008, 09:12

Nick, I remember women in light-colored Iranian-style chaddors in and around Trichy, but never saw the sort of burqua you describe.

Nick-H · May 3rd, 2008, 09:23

Actually, I saw such a woman at the beach yesterday, and the top is longer than I remembered.

aquamoon · Jun 13th, 2008, 06:43

Err...hope no one minds that I get back on topic for a bit here..

I'm traveling from Delhi - Agra - Jaipur - Pushkar in January, then flying back to Delhi from Jaipur, and I'm really concerned about what to wear, especially after reading all the harassment reports. Being Asian doesn't help to make me feel better, because I have read so many Asian female traveler's reports on being harassed.

So, my plan is to get some SK from Indian stores here in SF and bring them over, until I have a chance to buy some new ones in Pushkar and Jaipur. However, my friend is definitely NOT doing anything like that, plus she's really tall and has very short hair. That'd attract a lot of stares, I think. To minimize any chance of trouble happening, what would be appropriate wear for her? Seems like jeans is considered as indecent...

Also, about dupatta covering the chest...does that mean covering the "skin" of the chest, or the "curves" of the chest?

Thank you all for your responses...

dzibead · Jun 13th, 2008, 07:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by aquamoon

Seems like jeans is considered as indecent...

Also, about dupatta covering the chest...does that mean covering the "skin" of the chest, or the "curves" of the chest?

Thank you all for your responses...

No, jeans aren't indecent, just most of the time too stinking hot to be comfortable unless it's winter or you are going to be someplace where it's actually cool.

As for what the dupatta covers, well, yes, the skin, if the top is so low-cut, which it probably won't be in a typical SK outfit, and also the curves if the fit of the top is really tight or cling-y and hence highly revealing of "contours". But your friend can wear jeans and T-shirts or tunic tops and have short hair, and otherwise look thoroughly Western, all without being unduly concerned. Except in really modern metro settings, wearing shorts and tank tops or tube tops, or super short or clingy clothing in general, isn't a good idea. But wearing salwar kameez isn't necessary. It's comfortable and attractive and wearing SK can eliminate anxiety over whether your clothes are "appropriate" - but it's not required!

wonderwomanusa · Jun 13th, 2008, 07:42

Your friend can wear lightweight pants and a long-ish shirt and be perfectly comfortable -- as can you.

I certainly wouldn't pay SF prices for an SK when you can get the cloth and have them sewn in India for $5-10.