It is extremely sexist but at the same time I don't believe in banning it. It hurts the women, if they aren't covered their husbands and fathers won't let them go out in public, so all it does is limit their freedom of movement even more.

Religious beliefs that are women hating don't deserve respect in my opinion. Hiding behind religion or "culture" doesn't excuse misogyny and violence against women and children.

I think it was created in a sexist way, that it's regularly used in a sexist way, but that it is ultimately an object we assign characteristics to based on context and can be used in an empowering way in certain circumstances. It's like the bra burning thing, where the bra was seen as an object of oppression in the circumstances of western civilization but has been used in a feminist way in countries where women's sexuality is so forbidden. Philosophically speaking, everything is devoid of meaning; we give it meaning. So what it means isn't static. What the burka generally means is sexist, though.

Most women want/choose to wear it because of religious convictions. Until the entire Muslim religion changes, women are going to wear them.

^You can't possibly know that. None of us can, and that's sort of the problem.

@Pandawinx: What's up with the pictures? One of them doesn't fit with the text.

I agree with SelinaKyle.

It is a religious thing, but it's still very misogynistic.

Oh, it's entirely sexist. There has never been a question on that matter. The true question is, does religion justify the practice of sexism? I'd usually say no, but if the woman HERSELF is the one supporting the practice, well, who are we to intervene? I hope we can soon live in a world where it will be the woman's choice on whether or not she wears Burka, but we cannot go beyond that. A woman who chooses these practices on her own brings any further sexism upon herself, and must deal with it herself. Sad but true.

Religion has NEVER been an escuse for sexism. That's why I'm not Catholic anymore. No women preist, the only thing we can be in the religious community are nuns and Religion teachers, fuck that! And the women only wear cause they've been raised with the custom and they THINK it's okay, but they don't understand that they deserve equality, and the right to wear whatever the fuck you want

Yet again, this is a HIGHLY simplistic way to phrase this question. Burkas can be used as ways of controlling women, yes. And sometimes, they aren't.

I think it would be more appropriate if a group of Muslims were having this conversation. Specifically, Muslim women. They would know best, wouldn't they?

And I'm assuming that no one who has answered this question is Muslim, because I'm also assuming that a Muslim would pass over this question for the Euro-centric xenophobia it really is.

Edit: Wow, I am reading my response a few weeks later and this is pretty harsh. I mean, I still think that we should respect burkas or hijabs as a religious and/or cultural practice, and not automatically assume that the woman wearing them has been forced or coerced into it. And I still think that this question has been asked partly because of the huge wave of Islamophobia that has taken over the US and Europe within the last 10 or 15 years. I don't think it's an accident that we have been fed so many images veiled women as passive victims. I believe it is a colonialistic mindset that tells us we have the right to go into another country and "save" the women. But, that doesn't mean we don't also have the right to discuss it as much as we want. I just wanted to articulate that better.

The quran or however you spell it doesn't say women need to wear burka's it just says they should dress modestly so the fact that it isn't optional is really sexist.

They shouldn't be able to wear it anyway, it's a MASSIVE security risk. One of the 7/7 bombers got out of the country using his sisters passport and a burka......

^^Criminals can use many, many things to disguise themselves in order to escape a situation. If a burka or hijab is not available, they will simply use something else. Banning face veils (in any form) on the basis of security is on the same level as banning plastic surgery, hats, wigs, makeup or any product that transforms a persons appearance, on the basis of "security."

yes it is sexist and if you wear a burqua ur basically saying, "I'm a slave". Burqa's are NOT religous beliefs but cultural in which women are seen as low scrap.

Really hate it when discrimination and hate are called "just a cultural practice." If the penalty for not wearing it will get you ostracized by your community and family, stoned to death or raped, then yes, it is being coerced.

i remember when me and my brothers and mum had a trip to London and we went on the tube to go somewhere and there was a woman who was wearing one and she was STARING at us i think she was jealous that we were free

Not only is it grossly sexist! it is a symbal of opression,enslavement and sexaul mutilation! it is VILE! and should be banned! >:(

By the way for a muslim womens view,you might want to check out the graphic novel or film by Marjane Satrapi titled: Persepolis.i saw the film and thought it was good.

All religions are sexist.

Well being required to wear one I think is sexist. But to wear one in volunteer just to honor your religious beliefs isn't in my opinion.

Probably almost none of these peoples here are Muslim and understand it as part of religion, so no wonder they though it was sexist. Anyway I'm a Muslim and burqa is NOT sexist and represent inequality. Muslim women are not forced to wear it, as Burqa is more like a culture from Arabic. If most of terrorists are wear it then you have to blame the peoples, not the clothes.