Everyone is saying the bible says a women is to cover her hair. I think everyone should go back and read it again. What the bible says is a man is not to cover his head when going to worship, but a woman's hair is given her as a covering. If you must know why is it that women have more hair than men especially in most cases, their hair usually grows faster as well. If a women wishes to cover her head with what ever, so what? But don't quote the bible and be wrong at the same time. Remember a man is not to cover his at head during worship yet they do, and a woman's hair is given as a covering for her head.

I just have to say that for people who speak(actually type) so eloquently, some of you are extremely ignorant. You say you're not biased, yet you speak without knowledge. You say you're not sexist, yet obviously you either think women don't have a mind of their own, or they are to weak to use it. It's pathetic really.

I said that to say this: I happen to be a Muslim man and furthermore I am the husband of a beautiful Muslim women. We are both white Americans, but because we believe in modesty as opposed to skin tight pants that say "juicy" or "apple bottom" or any number of oh so clever catch phrases on the bottom, we are the wrong ones? And as for oppression or thuggishness from me towards my wife, you're out of your mind! My wife chooses to wear what she does.

At the end of this ignorance in quotations below I will speak my last piece and be done with it. But before I do I would like to say this: In a small number of third world counries Muslim women are forced into their garb and lifestyle, but in those countries children die of starvation and malaria and dehydration, and some are forced either to work in sweat shops or as prostitutes- (as early as 7 years old) and you might look around and see little 10-11 year old boys with AK47's. And though my heart goes out to them -- all of them -- this is not that. I for one live in Michigan. The women that you see walking around like that are just following the rules of our religion. Do you scoff or get on the internet (because cowards never speak their minds to your face) or roll your eyes or fill with hatred when you see a catholic women wearing a cross? Or clothing that isn't sexually suggestive? Or when you see any number of these Ashton Kutcher wannabes with trucker caps on? Hell, you must not like priests either, for they wear muslim clothing, just slightly modified. And by modified I mean they wear what I do just with a white collar around their neck Like a shackle. Oh yeah, if I am not mistaken (and trust me i'm not), Marilyn Monroe wore a scarf almost anytime she went into public, as do many of the female celebrities. Get the point?

You are not heroes trying to cry out for oppressed women.

"it actually makes me feel sick when i see Muslim women walking around like letterboxes.

in my opinion, it's ridiculous and demeaning and i think if they really wanna worship god, they should get some respect for the bodies he gave them.- anon29580"

O.K. So let me get this right--(it might take some time, because you know us muslims-the only thing we know apparently is how to beat, oppress and rape women) you feel sick when you see muslim women walking around? So is it safe to assume that nuns also turn your stomach? No? That's because it has nothing to do with what they are wearing, it has to do with who they are. And I guess I will close with this: My wife does respect her body. Just because she chooses not to show it to people like you doesn't mean she does not respect it. Quite the opposite. She does not feel the need to dress like a whore. All praise be to Allah.

The Bible warns women to cover their hair "because of the angels" who are said to have impregnated women. (I guess angels are supposed to be so stupid that they can't tell a woman if her hair is covered.)

In Judaism the scarf is called a Tikhel or a Mitpakhat while the wig is called a Sheitel.

In the Jewish faith especially in the Hassidic world in Israel most woman cover their hair with a scarf but many also cover with a wig or a huge hat, as long as the whole hair is covered it is what matters. Only the husband can see his wife's hair. As long as the real hair is covered and not shown it is what matters. Mostly because of modesty and because in Kabbalah and the Talmud it claims that the woman's hair is sacred and has power. So to respect G-d they cover their hair. Judaism was actually the first religion out of the three others to follow this law(Mitzvah).

'As history conclusively states, in ancient times women were considered chattel, and still are to this day in many lands'

I find this interesting, not because I disagree, but because this also happens in Western society in the giving and acceptance of engagement rings, which are a form of trade, also treating a woman as a possession. The ring is simply a form of down-payment and proof that a woman can be 'kept' in a suitable fashion. Every culture has a way to keep women down, I'm afraid.

If you're Christian, Jewish or Hindu, very little issue can be taken with the head covering or modest dress. All of the Old Testament and New Testament women are portrayed as covering themselves. It's actually disrespectful to think that Mary or Ruth did *not* cover their hair. And Hindu Goddesses are always portrayed as fully covered or modestly dressed. There's no sudden appearance of pious bikini-clad women.

If feminists take exception to women covering their hair, they should know that a feminist who covers her hair is no less a feminist than one who does not. It's not a matter of subjugation of the sexes and a certain amount of decorum between sexes is a necessary part of everyone's life. I will not shake a woman's hand if she does not extend her hand and will always be more polite in the company of women. Sexist? hardly!

What is wrong if women cover themselves? Isn't it better than being naked?

*definitely oppose*

it actually makes me feel sick when i see Muslim women walking around like letterboxes.

in my opinion, it's ridiculous and demeaning and i think if they really wanna worship god, they should get some respect for the bodies he gave them.

I'm visiting a mosque temple soon, on a school trip. All girls school. So to enter said mosque every single one of us must bring a head scarf to wear upon entering.

I am....offended, that I should have to do this.

I understand that to them, it is a sign of respect for their religion, but to me, it seems like a sign of my inferiority to men.

In a life/death situation I would of course suck it up and just wear the head scarf, but as this is a simple class trip, I am caught between giving in and 'respecting' their religion or I can refuse to wear it, hence refuse to enter.

I really won't hurt my grades to not enter, though it would be causing a kerfuffle.

Would it be stupid to refuse?

As history conclusively states, in ancient times women were considered chattel, and still are to this day in many lands, Covering themselves was thought to discourage unwanted male attention. It has never done so. Women of all faiths have been regarded as objects for abuse and treated violently by violent people of ALL creeds. They have been made to believe they are "less than." That is a particular nasty component in the human psyche. Cut off your hair. Cover your head. Bind your breasts. Sheath your entire body. Exist only as a moving sheet. This has not kept them safe. It does not make them more cherished or protected by family, friends, man or God. The West is equally culpable. How short ago was it was when any woman who was raped, no matter her attire, background or demeanor, was thought to have "been asking for it." This despicable "rationale" has been used over and over world wide to leave a shattered person no safety, honor, or justice. All over the world women run for their lives. In the Arab world, a woman covered from head to toe can be beaten, mutilated and raped based on an accidental breeze exposing an ankle. A man may receive the same treatment based on a lie made by "friends." In Africa, the simple act of going for much needed water can get you slaughtered. In Utah, let no pubescent girl dare to outrun a forced marriage. Surprise! Bad people everywhere WILL do bad things. People of conscience MUST step forward, whatever a harassed person's gender, faith, race or dress, to protect that individual's right to be unharmed. A person's physical or mental gifts were never meant to be hidden or devalued. Beauty, brilliance, humor, kindness, innocence are meant to be protected and yes, celebrated. One may wear whatever head covering they choose. They should not however be coerced to hide, de-gender or disappear by jealous, insecure thugs. Until this fact is enforced by INTERNATIONAL law, the thugs will always win.

It's not just Islam that says women should cover their hair for reasons of modesty. Orthodox Judaism also requires married women to cover their hair. Usually this accomplished with hats or wigs.