The Associated Press just published an article about a woman who was kicked out of a swimming pool in France for wearing a hijabi swimsuit.
Read the article here.
What are your thoughts?
Related posts:
- Burqini swim story update
- Fashion’s Invisible Woman
- Fitness tailored to a hijab
- Improved Muslim Perceptions
- Crimson Chiffon and the Joyous Muslim Woman
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Tags: burkini, france burquini, hijabi swimsuit
I just read that!! my husband called me from work to tell me about that. i dont like it, but if they do have it written in their pool policy that baggy clothes arent allowed in the pool, well that is their rules weather we like it or not. i saw a full body picture of her swimsuit, and while her shirt is fitting, her pants are baggy and they probably consider the scarf in the picture i saw baggy too. so i dont like it but at the same time if its in their rules thats a hard fight, but we all can assume tho that they got some amusement from turning her away, which is what i dont like. all those comments from people in the article talking about women been fighting for years for equal rights and people like us come along and we are going back in time, what kind of CRAP is that. these people know we CHOOSE to be modest. i am sick of people talking for us!!!!
I was also unsure as to why she was rejected from a public pool wearing swimming specific garb, however if not wearing baggy clothes are the rules of the public pool then you cant dispute that. The picture in the article is of another woman wearing a burquini so we dont know exactly how baggy or loose the French womans outfit was however there is a safety risk with baggy clothes getting caught in drains and therefore I can understand their regulations.
If the rules are just against wearing “clothes” then it was probably a misunderstanding as a burquini is probably a new concept and the pool officials probably didnt know its designed specifically for swimming and not outdoor wear.
Having said that I agree with Sera that it is annoying however how the french govt and officials seem to speak for all women who choose to be modest and wear hijab as a symbol of liberation not out of fear or oppression! They cant speak for me and don’t know what is best for me…its like the French govt. are the other extreme and no better those patriarchal Muslim societies that enforce women to cover!
Much respect to the woman though for trying to get out there and have a good time…
I have to say it’s interesting this made it on the news. If she was wearing her own homemade concoction I can understand them turning her away because you don’t know if the clothes meet safety standards. Hijabi swimsuits such as the Burqini or even Splashgear are made to follow strict standards in order to allow someone to swim without being weighed down by the fabric.
The other reason I find it curious that it made the news is because if she wasn’t wearing a real burqini but sweats and a tshirt then who the heck cares? I could go on and on as usual but I’ll stop hehe.
And the ironic thing about it all is the original swimsuits were long dresses … but as time has gone by women wear less and less..
City pools all over should emulate Calgary’s policy which allows women to wear hijabs and even saris into pools as long as they shower in their outfits before going into the pools. this is a great effort in getting women and their families to be more active and healthy!
shame on France govt! They are the ones holding women prisoners by not letting them enjoy what is their right to enjoy!
My understanding of the French pool’s position is that they indeed did not understand that this swimsuit is not ‘clothing’, but is intended and made only for swimming and is worn only for that purpose and in no other situation. In general, however, I find the French government’s attitude towards religiously-based clothing to be scandalous. This is the sort of thing that needs to be dealt with in European Court. I think the Euro-Constitution does in principle require freedom of religious practice.
My fear is that this was a legitimate reason for her to not be allowed in the pool and that it will take away from the real debate that SHOULD be going on in France about burqas.
It seems like there were clear rules about what can be worn in a pool. If she was actually wearing a sanctioned burqini, then there’s definitely an issue. But if she was wearing what can be considered street clothes, then there’s not really a dispute.
But the rest of the French policies do make me mad. Especially since nobody even seems to think there’s anything wrong with it.
In my opinion, it’s all just hate. These swimsuits are not just for hijabi’s. They have been popular among Christians as well as those who want to protect their skin from sun and chlorine. If she wasn’t a Muslim, I don’t think it would have been such a big deal.
Maybe calling it a burqini was a bad idea. I think it kind of has a negative connotation since the term burqa is in it.
Also…
“We are going back in civilization,” he said by telephone. Women have fought for decades for equal rights with men, he said. “Now we are putting them back in burqas and veils.”
Seriously?? Not all women have the perfect body that they are willing to show off. And what the heck does equal rights have to do with how a woman CHOOSES to dress??
Farah, It has plenty to do with how a woman chooses to dress – which is precisely why women should be allowed to cover themselves if they wish!
It’s just insane at the end of the day that people care about what others are wearing. To be the devil’s advocate here, what if people decided to parade around town nude? What if they say in order to accept us in hijab we have to accept them? Where do we draw the line?
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1912685,00.html
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