Across the ocean, debate has been sparking about a controversial law in France. In some beach towns, usually in which mayors lean more toward the right, a law was introduced that women at the beach were not allowed to wear burkinis, a full-body beach wear specifically for Muslim women. The argument that was made before the law was repealed was that burkinis were restrictive of women's bodies and disruptive to French sensibilities. What the conservative French didn’t understand was that by forcing them to strip, they were being restrictive of what they were able to wear.
As anyone knows, there is a long history of people being told what they can and cannot wear, especially women. Whether it be having to wear heels and dresses of a certain length, certain kimonos, and, to this day, in some Islamic countries, women are required to wear headscarves like hijabs, and burkinis. And yes, I do agree that forcing women to wear those clothes, especially in severe hot weather, is wrong. The difference here is that in France, these Muslim women chose to wear the burkinis. Forcing them to wear bikinis is just as bad as forcing them to be fully clothed. Their bodies are only their own business, and what they do with it should be their own choice. As long as it doesn’t hurt themselves and others, they should be allowed to do and dress as they like. Not all women find liberation in how little they are allowed to wear, but some find liberation in being able to cover their body as they like. No one should be required to expose their body for all to see -- that decision should be left to the individual.
If you do any research, it becomes very clear that the ban on burkinis has nothing to do with being forced by a religion to be fully clothed anyways. Nuns, who are also required by their beliefs to be fully-clothed, have no bans, and certainly aren’t being forced by local police to strip on the beach. The reasoning is basically the same, so by logic, nun apparel should be banned, too, right? Which only further shows the reasoning for this law was not the liberation of women. The reason for the law was clearly Islamophobia, which has been on a rise with recent terrorist attacks -- which, let me clarify, are extremists who are not representatives of the Muslim religion.
Thankfully, there has been lots of support for these Muslim women. There was a "Wear What You Want" beach party at the French Embassy to support the Muslim women on August 25th. There as been criticism of the law all around the world, especially English-speaking countries. And finally, the law was banned August 26th on the grounds that the law was, as the Council of State stated, “seriously impinged on the principle of equality of citizens before the law, freedom of expression, freedom of conscience and freedom of movement and was manifestly illegal.”
As Tareq Oubrou, the Imam of Bordeaux, wisely stated: “It’s not through prohibitions that we emancipate women.”
