If it is not women’s legs and bottoms (see Appropriateness), it is their breasts. Apparently some men, especially some religious men, just can’t leave them alone. It is bad enough that some women in the Sudan are being whipped for wearing trousers, now some in Somalia are being whipped for wearing bras.
According to press reports:
A HARDLINE Islamist group in Somalia is publicly whipping women for wearing bras they say violate Islam by constituting a “deception”, it was claimed yesterday.
Gunmen from al Shabaab have been rounding up any women with a “firm bust” and whipping them, say residents in the capital Mogadishu.
They are then told to remove their bras and shake their breasts.
I found this both sad, but not surprising. In a religious culture that tends to incarcerate female minds, and imprison female bodies (as well as mutiliate them), paying detailed attention to female underwear is a relatively minor extension of the control.
It does seem bizarre that extremely religious men can justify an almost a fetishistic interest in bras. It seems so absurd. And can you imagine the outcry if female religious police checked whether men were wearing jockstraps in a similar fashion?
On seeing the headlines I initially thought it might be about sexual attraction. I was amused as I thought about how this is influenced, to some extent by culture. In the West, being bra-less is sometimes seen as being more sexually provocative. I am old enough to remember the frisson of excitement watching Ground Force on TV, knowing that Charlie Dimmock’s bra-less breasts might occasionally swing underneath her T shirt and very occasionally proclaim a hard nipple.
It amused me to think that exactly the opposite might be happening in Somalia - that the women were being accused by the frightened, rigid men of being sexually provocative by restraining their breasts and wearing bras, that the ‘Madonna effect’ was being considered sinful. Was this just another example of sexuality (and specifically female sexuality) having to be repressed by frightened religious groups convinced that any natural expression of sexual display is the root of all evil and has to be stamped out at all costs?
Apparently not. Although there may have been a fear of sexuality behind it, the official justification for it was ingenious. Bras were offensive because they promoted deception, and deception is unIslamic. Ok. I understand the argument, but it seems seriously flawed. Any attention to hair (cutting), or the wearing of any clothes is deceptive. Surely the Somali extremists don’t want everyone to go around stark naked with long hair? Wearing shoes might be a necessity, but even they might give an evil wrong impression about feet. It could ironically be argued that the extreme covering of the female body as favoured by many Muslims is a form of ultimate deception.
The deception argument raises as many problems as it attempts to solve. And arguments that sexuality is a part of humanity that has to be locked up and hidden, arguably leads to as much (if not more) abuse of women that it superficially pretends to protect.
I just wish that religion (and especially religious men) would leave sexuality (and especially female sexuality) alone.
Well, that title got my attention!
Not that I have a lot to say. The whole thing is completely crazy - absurd in fact. I am a little anti-bra myself but if anyone told me that I should not wear one, I would make a point of wearing one (at least) day and night without fail.
What a silly world we live in. It would certainly be easier (although chillier over here) if we all strutted around in our birthday suits.
These misogonists are using their faith as the maguffin to harass, intimidate and humilate women. Can you imagine how degarding it must be to be made to shake your chest around to prove you are braless? Especially in a culture that does highly value modesty. To have strange men focusing intently on your chest.
As you rightly say almost any form of clothing could be seen as deceptive.
But during writing this comment it’s struck me that they are just dirty old men who like nothing bettr than to perve women. I’m amazed though that other mullahs haven’t called them out for their perverted behavior
Reluctant Blogger
Agreed. The thing is so silly (and tragic), and the issue is not whether one does or doesn’t, but that one has the freedom to choose. At the moment I choosing not to, but I suppose I reserve the theoretical right to change my mind.
Jane
Thanks for dropping by. We are in agreement. Of course, the wondefully ironic and ridiculous thing is that the ‘dirty old men’ obsessed with women’s chests and their underwear actually think that they are the ‘clean’ and ‘holy’ ones. They have created an upside down reality.
I hope you enjoyed me replying to the ipadio version of this.
Hope that you broadly agree with my views on this one.
onethoughtfulwoman
I left my comments on your comments on the ipadio site.
I think someone who knows Islam better than I do could probably make a strong case for this idea.
I always thought that Islamic laws were about protecting men from their lusts. I never had the impression that they were about protecting women.
the chaplain
Good point. I had somehow overlooked that, but it is so true.