From a Revolution Club Member:
The Veil Is NOT a “Form of Power”
January 18, 2016 | Revolution Newspaper | revcom.us
Download the PDF of this pamphlet: A Declaration: For Women's Liberation and the Emancipation of All Humanity
Dear Revolution newspaper,
I just saw a clip going around Facebook from a Daily Show interview with Dalia Mogahed [Obama’s adviser on Muslim affairs] that infuriated me. There were parts I appreciated, like when she challenged some of the anti-Muslim bigotry that is so pervasive in this country and spoke about the importance of acceptance towards gays and lesbians and others who are oppressed.
However, what was infuriating was when she defended the veil. She argued that the hijab is just about making women’s sexuality private, that it is a form of power, and argued that it’s oppressive to challenge it. She gets Trevor Noah won over to great applause.
This struck me as being so upside down, such a slavish mentality. So, not wrapping yourself up if you’re a woman means that your sexuality is no longer private? What does that even mean!? Unwrapped women’s sexuality should belong to the public? And power? That power is being able to maneuver within patriarchal domination?
No! Real power for the oppressed comes from ENDING oppression—ending the oppression of women by men in every form, as well as rising up to put an end to all other forms of oppression, exploitation, enslavement and degradation! That’s what an actual revolution is—and that is what humanity really needs.
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