Reply to Muslim women speak out against the hijab as an element of political Islam

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]
I don't think PP was making an argument,  She was simply stating how she views those wearing a hijab.  Her assumption is that they are brainwashed.  This is on par with those who say if they see a person who is markedly unkempt in public they assume they are either homeless or have mental health problems.

People do and must use heuristics or shortcuts that use outer appearance to make quick assessments of another's circumstances in order to process the world and decide on a next action without being overwhelmed.  More information, though, may change the judgment made through the heuristic.  PP's heuristic for a hijab wearer is brainwashed woman, not much gong on there, and, possibly, not worth my time and more deserving of my pity.

Hijab wearers may or may not care that people see the scarf and make a quick judgment that she is brainwashed or arrogant or of extremist views.  But I am guessing that at least some of them think the hijab should be seen as a positive message of their love and respect for God and man.  I think I can safely say that is probably not the default heuristic for the vast majority of Americans.[/quote]

Original PP who used the word "brainwashed" here.  If a woman wears a hijab, it indicates a particular religious belief that is anti-women.   In order to believe in something that inherently devalues you as a person, I believe you have to be brainwashed.  This is not remotely the same as assuming every unkempt person is homeless or mentally ill.  The person is wearing the garment as an outward proclamation of a specific set of beliefs. People don't wear hijabs for other reasons to my knowledge.  If they do, please enlighten.

I said I don't respect them for having those beliefs, but how does that extend to not being worth anyone's time or worthy of mercy or pity?  I also never said that a person wearing a hijab is automatically an extremist.  Whoa.  You need to step back and stop putting words into other people's mouths.  I am talking about something that is anti-women, and it is you who is extending it to these additional views.  
[/quote]

PP here.  Sorry if my analogy of unkemptness was poor--writing quickly--but I do think your heuristic for someone wearing a hijab is brainwashed. I have no problem with that at all and somewhat share that belief, but I actually see additional possibilities like arrogance and extremism, but neither of them automatically. I put those bits in the last paragraph where I was generalizing away from (or at least was intending to if it was not clear) your views to what others at large may shortcut to when they see a woman wearing a hijab.

As for not being worth your time or deserving of pity, I did qualify that with "possibly" as I am not sure how others interact with those they view as brainwashed.

You seem to see the hijab as purely anti-women.  I think it is to a very large extent, but I also know that there are some cases where it has actually helped women.  I don't want to over-emphasize this or lend any credence to the view that somehow the hijab is a feminist statement, but I do know that in some areas families let their daughters attend university only if they wear a hijab.  They think that somehow this will protect her purity in a co-ed environment.  So their daughters put on a hijab so they can receive an education.  For these girls the hijab has nothing to do with their religious beliefs.  It's just something they have to do to fulfill their ambition to better themselves.[/quote]

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