ALIA ESHAQ - POLS Senior
“I would allow more veiled girls in if they were “classy” like you!” Why am I not surprised this is what the owner of L’Auburgine said when confronted with the question regarding their “no veil” policy. Whether you are veiled or not, a boy or a girl, does it bother you how much drama this piece of cloth is stirring?
First as a religious symbol, then politics, and now class. To those unaware of what I am talking about, we, veiled girls, are not allowed in some restaurants/bars.
Apparently the owners either feel they know better when it comes to what is good for us, or they just do not want to see that thing we cover our heads with, it just “makes people in the bar uncomfortable.”
I do not know which excuse is more disturbing. Either way, why does this bother me? I do not go to bars.
I do not drink and I certainly would not feel comfortable being around people when they do, so why am I writing this?
I am fed up with the attempts to create a certain class image about the veil. It astonishes me how in a country with a majority of veiled girls, you switch your TV to find none! where are the veiled anchors? the talk shows presenters? why don’t we see veiled girls in films? The media is certainly creating an image that does not match reality.
Do you remember the last time you watched an Egyptian film where the leading actress was veiled? In one of my political science classes last semester, a veiled girl announced that she aspired to work as a diplomat. “Maybe you’ll be the first veiled diplomat!” said the professor. Again, why?
Not just that, many work places still specify “unveiled” as a requirement. Why do you care if you see my hair or not.
Whether the veil is religiously required or unnecessary, whether its faith or simply culture, why does it bother you?
Lately, some Facebook groups have been sharing images comparing eras before and after the spread of the veil.These self claiming feminists reminisce with sorrow over the past ages where women were “free” and “empowered.”
Quick question: isn’t it degrading when you assume that women were brainwashed? and that they ought to listen to you and learn from you the proper way and proper dress to be empowered?
As much as I am against the “cultural” veil and the misunderstanding of what in my opinion the veil is truly about, it is nonetheless a culture that was spread by both men and women. I respect it because it is what people want. It is what many women chose.
Some times expressed implicitly, other times explicitly, sadly, even in a country like Egypt (not France or Europe!), some still view the veil as an indication of class.
This is why we still do not have veiled diplomats, and this is why the owner of L’Auburgine thinks he can tell us when and when not to go to his restaurant, given that we are at least classy of course!
