A sexual deterrent

Submitted by Don (Pakistan), Aug 3, 2007 at 09:48

Having lived in Kuwait and Pakistan (for work), and learning about these cultural and religious customs, I find it kind of strange that in the eyes of Muslim women, the covering of their face and body is (more often than not) to ward off sexual advances and come off as pious; a way of saying, "Ï don't want you to look at me sexually. I'm a good Muslim woman."

The men, conversely, think a woman not covering up is inviting men to look upon them sexually and are often approached - in the Gulf states, by simply handing a girl a phone number many men carry by the bulk in their pockets for these women and hoping for a call later, but not stopping to talk to her.

Uncovered women, by accounts of several Kuwaiti female aquaintances, can end up with a dozen of numbers at the end of a shopping trip unaccompanied by a father or brother. Men generally don't respect these women, but hope for something exciting to happen later. (And by the way...some of these women can be sexually promiscuous, but will do it anally to remain a virgin vaginally and be sure they're doing it with a discreet person - often an older Western man...like me!) Just by virtue of being uncovered, they're considered sluts by many in their society.

Many younger women rebel against the hijab and niqab, often angering their parents and family, and being considered unsuitable for marriage by any respectable Muslim man. The pressure to cover gets the better of most of them though. And once they're married, they usually do whatever the husband demands of them; usually covering, since he wouldn't want his friends and family to think poorly about his choice - if it even was his choice - for a wife.

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