The Republic: Issues in Islam
Unfortunately, it has taken the horrors of September 11 and the bombing of Afghanistan to turn the spotlight on Islam and the Muslims and to encourage a reexamination of common biases against Islamic tenets and Muslim stereotypes. No subject seems to receive more attention as an issue unique to Muslims than that of women's dress. Muslims and non-Muslims alike dwell on this issue, using women's appearances to categorize others in an effort to understand them. In some instances, the dress of the Muslim woman ends up meaning more to others than it does to the women herself, with often far-reaching political and social implications. Much has been said and written about the political, economic, religious and cultural significance of veiling. Both non-veiled and veiled Muslim women have all been involved in the debate, each with differing views on the reason for, the advantages and disadvantages of veiling. "Muslim women's reasons for veiling are quite complex, usually rooted within their own, personal belief and habits. Opinions may vary according to their specific class, regional, national, and cultural backgrounds." The practice of veiling and of body covering is perhaps one of the most cont
They are also not consulted in respect to development projects and livelihood programs undertaken by the government. Men as holding positions of power and influence should not be seen as the norm. The veil can symbolize seclusion and restriction, and what is outside of it signifies what is open and unconstrained. The Republic also expresses some notions regarding xenophobia. The practice of veiling is mandated largely by men who claim to be upholding religious and national values. "The larger the proximity of a woman to the public space, the greater the severity of cultural constrains applied to women. Modern Muslim social structures need to take a hint from Plato, who cited the Spartans who left their women to rule their cities when they left to fight in wars. Veiling may be seen as a status symbol, or as a claim to a high social class. The line between the boundaries of the two needs to be blurred and incorporated. Men and women are instructed in separate schools, public venues are divided into different sections for men and women. "It has reduced a woman's place and role to her sexual and reproductive dimensions. The true city of the just is a city wherein the belief that women must not be heard nor seen is not a ruling directive but rather, a city wherein the citizens, which include the female population, are allowed to exercise their powers and identity, and place their own personal, religious, and cultural values into action. In the city of the just, the guardian-rulers must be an exemplar of virtue in order to incite the other citizens to follow in his footsteps. One of a soldier defending his city, and another as a member of the community. The government has an obligation to regulate for the sake of the public self, and should not censor the mind of the city with regards to the women population and the imposed veiling tradition.
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