Tag Archives: muslims

French Women Protest A Ban On Burqas

Julie GersteinOctober 8, 2010 //


The above video is from a French feminist group called Niqabitch. They’re two women in their 20s who are protesting France’s ban on burqas and niqabs by walking through the streets of Paris decked in niqabs, short-shorts and heels. The Niqabitches, one of whom is Muslim, believe that banning women from wearing traditional Muslim body coverings is unconstitutional. Keep reading »

Muslim Conservatives In Malaysia Are Not So Crazy In Love With Beyonce

Annika HarrisOctober 20, 2009 //

Beyonce has postponed an Oct. 25 performance in Malaysia after Muslim conservatives in that country accused her show of being “immoral.” The Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, Malaysia’s largest opposition group, has called for the cancellation of the show because they say it would promote “Western sexy performances.” A statement released by Marctensia entertainment company says the decision to postpone was made solely by Beyonce. In 2007, she canceled a planned performance after protest threats from the Islamic opposition party, but said at the time it was a result of scheduling conflicts. Female performers in Malaysia are required by law to cover up from the shoulders to the knees, without any visible cleavage. And, last month, Marctensia said Beyonce and others involved had “come to an amicable understanding” about her performance costumes. (But the postponement suggests this wasn’t true.) If the problem here is Beyonce’s bedazzled leotards, we can’t wait to see the more conservative, body-covering versions she comes up with. Can Sasha be Fierce without showing off her legs, booty, and cleavage? Keep reading »

Saudi Women Get Designer Abayas From John Galliano, Nina Ricci And More

Catherine StrawnJuly 1, 2009 //

Despite the fact that French President Nicolas Sarkozy proposed a ban on burqas in France last week, saying the body coverings imprison women, Paris held a fashion show showcasing specially made designer abayas, the black overgarments worn by some Muslim women. Keep reading »

The Daily Squeeze: Love Leave, Women Working Out, And Gray Hair

Catherine StrawnMarch 7, 2008 //
  • Next week, the Finnish Parliament will discuss whether to grant working adults one week of “love leave” a year. This proposal is aimed at helping to reduce the number of divorces (half of all Finnish marriages end in divorce — like the U.S.!) and the number of people suffering from depression. Research there has shown that Finns want more time with loved ones than higher wages. [Reuters]
  • Harvard has banned men from one of its gyms for a few hours each week to allow Muslim women to exercise without having to be completely covered. When in public, Muslim women must cover their hair and most of their skin, which probably makes exercising an especially sweaty, uncomfortable affair. [AP]
  • A 50-year-old writer posted a profile on Match.com with a photo of herself with gray hair. She monitored the number of “winks” and e-mails she received, and then she removed that profile and put up the same profile three months later with a different photo, this one of her with brown hair. She repeated this experiment in different geographic areas. All three times she received more “winks” with her gray-haired picture than the one that showed her with brown hair. We have no idea what this means for those of us under 50, but we might have to keep this in mind and skip the hair dye in a few years. [More]

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