Comments on: Muslimahs at the Beijing Olympics

By: Blogs we like: Muslim Women In Beijing Olympics « Amana Media Initiative Blog

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:14:08 +0000

[...] http://muslimahmediawatch.org/2008/08/14/muslimahs-at-the-beijing-olympics/ Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Memories live on as Olympics closeThe Olympics: Breaking Childrens Hearts Since 1896 [...]

By: thewhitelilyblog

thewhitelilyblog — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 02:41:00 +0000

If ‘the west’ wants Muslim women to participate in the Olympics, we should dress more modestly to difuse the situation. We should do it voluntarily, as a courtesy. It would not hurt us at all. I have noticed several websites with photos of scantly-clothed US and other western female contestants with very ugly sexual comments, which should be no surprise given the extreme stimulus. Female contestants’ male counterparts in the same sport are much more modestly clothed, so it has nothing to do with skill and evrything to do with sexual exploitation. I am a practicing Catholic and I am ashamed of the dress of many western participants in the Olympics. I certainly would not want to compete in such an atmosphere, nor wish any woman or girl in my family to suffer it. I believe many others feel the same way, but we are being silenced. I thank Muslim women who dress modestly for setting a higher standard.

By: Parkinson's in Wisconsin

Parkinson's in Wisconsin — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 04:44:00 +0000

Give me a break. The Olympics are suppose to be the athletes who are the best of the best in their home country. How can a Middle Eastern Country who send only one woman to run in one event (fully dressed) tell me that she qualified in her country? Who did she qualify against?If any athlete can now competed for any country (like the American woman playing basketball for Russia) then maybe I have a chance to compete in the 2012 Olympics in London representing Dubai.I think the IOC has some work to do.

By: Duniya

Duniya — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:39:00 +0000

Gary:Before making comments about Muslim women you may want to live as a Muslim woman for a while. Unless you have experienced the life of a Muslim woman you really should be very careful about making such comments. Additionally, your comments demonstrate the ignorance of so many regarding Muslim women and their clothing. Why does it bother people like yourself so much if a woman covers her hair? Especially if she CHOOSES to, which many hijab-wearing women do. Your comments are not only Islamophobic and ethnocentric but also misogynistic. Just as a comparison, many Western feminists would argue that women here, non-Muslim women, are compelled by Western media to dress sexy and look slim. Could we not make the argument “what other media culture would force women to starve themselves to death to look a certain way?” However, I know that’s not an accurate representation therefore how can you say that your comment is accurate?Additionally, just in defense of Islam, Islam does not compel women to wear anything. It simply encourages modesty in all areas of life, including clothing. Muslims have different ways of interpreting modesty, some of which include the hijab.

By: Zeynab

Zeynab — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 06:24:00 +0000

Uh, Gary? The reason that the media focuses on the hejab is because of a Western “Otherization” of Muslims that construe them as “different” and “bad.” The headscarf is just a piece of cloth. Besides, Jewish sects have similar things you might find “bizarre”, such as wigs, hats, and scarves, as well as stockings and long skirts. You’re free to not believe in Islam or any other reason, but don’t come up into MY house and insinuate that me and my sisters that we’re stupid. If you comment again, please heed our comment policy, which includes keeping your comments respectful.

By: gary.anderson683

gary.anderson683 — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 05:44:00 +0000

The reason that the media focus on Muslim women’s clothing is that the effect of hijabs is the opposite to that supposedly intended. As a non-believer in any religion, all I see is someone brainwashed by those in authority into wearing a ridiculous outfit which draws attention to her gender. Few other religions compel women to wear bizarre clothing. As for it being a source of pride… that’s like being proud of believing the earth is flat.

By: Faith

Faith — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:31:00 +0000

I didn’t read the article. Just going off the comments here. On the one hand, it makes me puke to constantly have Muslimahs associated with our clothing. It gets tiresome to be constantly associated with our clothing as if there was nothing else to us.However, I can understand why some hijabis would be happy when we are mentioned for something positive. Unforunately, there are a lot of people who do think that hijabis don’t do crap and who do think that hijab restricts women and prevents them from being athletic.Then again, the focus on hijab does gloss over the fact that not all Muslimahs wear hijab.So it’s a catch 22. You want people to realize that Muslim women are “normal” human beings but in the process we’re still otherized.

By: Zeynab

Zeynab — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:25:00 +0000

Rahela, great point. The commenters are just as bad as the rest of the media coverage. While I think Aisha has a point about the coverage being inspirational in the traditional context of the west portraying women in headscarves as unable to do ANYTHING, the overall focus on headscarves and nothing else is troubling and incomplete.

By: Duniya

Duniya — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 18:00:00 +0000

Thanks Zeynab. That’s true.Sorry if I wasn’t clearer. The focus on the hijab is irritatiing for many reasons. First, as I mentioned, whether a woman wears a hijab or not while playing sports should not even be something to report. What’s the big deal is she wears hijab? The fact that women can compete while wearing the hijab should come as no surprise. This sort of coverage just makes the hijab something strange and different. ie. “Wow..she can compete wearing something as repressive as the hijab!” Additionally, what about the Muslim women who do not wear hijab? If they want to cover Muslim women in the Olympics then they have neglected women without hijab. And Aisha I am extremely uncomfortable with this comment of yours:”how inspirational to see these sisters all sporty and still respecting their deen and modesty.”What you’re saying here is that those Muslim women who are competing without a headscarf are NOT respecting their deen or being modest. Please refrain from judging Muslim women without a head cover. You do not know them, their modesty, or the role of Islam in their lives. So please do not judge.

By: Mizz_Kitty

Mizz_Kitty — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:53:00 +0000

As far as I know, Brunei does not impose any ban on Muslim women to compete in sporting events particularly international events such as the South East Asian Games and the Asian Games, just to name a few. Perhaps it was just unfortunate that Brunei was “excluded” from the this year’s Olympic Games but it had nothing to do with this supposed ban.