I was recently reading an article about women and the Islamic culture and came across the word Burqini, which I had never heard or seen before, but I was intrigued and like any curious male just had to see what one looked like. Was it a sexy version of the more popular burqa? Oh yes, it was! Just take a look…
It’s described as: “A high quality ladies swimwear for Muslim, Hindu, and Jewish women. A four-piece swim wear with separate cap and hijab to the top. This fine piece of clothing also consists of long sleeves and a long trouser, that has a band attached to the end to prevent it from flowing backwards, preserving modesty.” Which led me to thinking:
Wow! Is this a style of swimwear that women developed themselves for a fun and relaxing day at the beach? It looks to me like a wet-suit sans scuba gear, more suitable for underwater than on top of the water…let alone on top of the sand, in the hot sun, on a warm summer’s day, (and it even comes with straps and tie downs just in case a wave comes by and exposes your…I’m sorry but I have absolutely no idea what could possibly cause this garment to expose anything)…but what do I know about women? I’m just a man. Which led me to thinking:
What’s the matter with men?! And why do we do such horrible things to women in the name of God? For the design of the burqini is intended to comply with the Quranic admonition for Muslim women (and other women of various religious orthodoxies) to dress modestly…but whose definition of modest is this? I’m all for freedom to do as one pleases and if it pleases you to dress up in a hooded sweatshirt and pajamas when going to the beach, then so be it…but if it’s someone elses idea of modesty forced upon you because they think God’s going to have a heart attack if you show some skin then…
I mean seriously, Does anyone really believe that God actually said, “Let there be light!” And then when he could finally see what was what, decided to create man in his own likeness and image and then created woman to be man’s companion and looked at her and said, “Oh my! What have I done to my penis?!” And so then ordained (by way of male prophets) to cover up this monstrosity of his creation for all time?
What kind of fear and loathing of the human body (or of women) and the natural processes by which it survives, resides inside the brains of the men who make up these rules and regulations? And what kind of hell must the poor women who live inside these garment prisons endure?
Which then got me to thinking: Vote for Hillary Clinton to be the next President of the United States. Finally placing a woman atop the leading Democracy in the modern world just might be the best thing to happen to the people of this planet since it first began dizzily spinning on its axis…6,000 or so years ago! ( another ridiculous religious factoid undoubtedly calculated by a man, counting on his fingers, while holding onto his manhood)
ipledgeafallegiance 
My 2016 presidential vote is still to be determined, but the rest of your post…spot on sir. I’ve always been curious as to why religions across the board seem “hell bent” on subjugating ANY ONE who isn’t heterosexual and male.
I agree, I think Hilary is the best candidate to win this election. 🙂
Well, while it’s not exactly designed for swimming (by the way, neither is a bikini), one advantage is that you’d be protected from sun exposure. When the rest of us are aging (by surgical removal of the cancerous chunks), “modest women” may look like God’s chosen people.
For me, as long as the dress code comes from within (a person’s own comfort with how they project themselves in the world) rather than from without (an enforced dress code), I don’t care if they dress modestly, or like a clown. I know some women of faith who choose modesty, because they are more comfortable with it. I have no problem with that. Sometimes I see very young girls dressed in clothing that is outrageously suggestive and I have to wonder about America. What kind of perverse projection inspires a parent to put a child into garb that can only attract the kind of attention for which a girl of tender age does not have the social skills to deal with the attention the attire can bring? While I’m not wearing a burqa, (I favor practical, comfortable clothing) I do have issues with a culture that primarily values women on how sexy they are–in large part, measured by their looks and their clothing. Think Trump. What’s up with that?
I don’t think a vote for Hillary is the solution to the dress code issue. I don’t find her to be the best role model for feminism, either. I am concerned that her corporatist values will be the undoing of the country, and the planet. Anyone seeking my vote has to be, first, honest, and has to address the real life issues that Americans face.
I totally agree! Women do not have to dress to “please” the men who will see them. We are not objects.
I’m fairly certain, based also upon experience, that clothing deemed “modest” is not meant to “please” the eye of men. My experience of men is they are far more “pleased” by less “modestly” dressed women. The type of attire shown above and with other means of commanded mode of dress is for maintaining control.
Amen to you! Leslie
My thoughts exactly, except for the last bit. America is actually quite behind when it comes to having female leaders. Pakistan, actually had one. So Hillary Clinton isn’t going to make that big of an impression outside the US.
As an older woman, I can seethe appeal in swim wear that both protects from the sun and also covers our bodies more so we do not feel like slaves to Western fashion and sexuality. Swimwear that covers more means we don’t have to be constantly shaving or waxing. Men should not be offended by what women wear because e dress for ourselves.