So it’s not the women covering themselves, then, it’s the westerners who tolerate covering that to some extent empowers oppressors? Basically, someone like me, who thinks it’s essentially innocuous to wear hijab, helps make the stoning of adulterers possible? Is that right, or are you going to move the target again?

I’m not trying to change your mind, just understand your argument. If you really give so few fucks, I’m not sure why it’s necessary to say so.

As far as women and others being second class citizens, the constitution and sharia aren’t so divergent. My guess is that most people who cover themselves are not hardcore adherents of fundamentalist Sharia, so I think it’s okay to chill out about it.

Everyone experiences some sort of pressure to meet some standard of modesty, or immodesty. I’m sure you feel pressure to wear clothing for some things at least sometimes. Is getting dressed anti-feminist? According to you, it seems like it would be.

No doubt the practice is rooted in misogyny, however there’s nothing inherently misogynist about dressing that way, is there? I think that’s true, and in that case it can’t be considered misogynist if it’s done as a free choice.

You don’t accept that covering could be anything but oppression. You think it’s not only a form of self-defeat, but it causes others to be harmed, is that right? Let’s say a person voluntarily wears handcuffs, going about their day in them. It doesn’t matter why in this case, because handcuffs are a clear symbol of…

It’s patronizing to say that their actions have no affect in the world

That’s really reaching. When you start up iTunes, is that tacit approval of abusive labor practices? When you use electricity, is that tacit approval of climate change? Maybe to some extent those things are true, but why single out these people and deny this specific instance? Because they’re Muslim.

The thing is, while I think we’re all aware of where you’re coming from here, you do come off as deeply patronizing and unaware of your own privilege. When you say, “Oh, well, I understand that many of the practices of my own society are sexist, and as I feminist I engage with them in an effort to defuse and redirect…

I think headscarves can be absolutely gorgeous.

but only the aspects of those cultures that are not sexist. Just like I only respect the aspects of American culture that are not sexist.

My college just allowed a group to have their second annual Hijab awareness day. I was looking forward to it all week because they were giving out beautiful scarfs for free. It was my birthday and I wanted a scarf. So, as I am going into the library with my husband, he refuses to let me go to the group’s table in his…

Why one modesty? Isn’t sexual exploration just as relevant?

If pressure from family, culture, or religious leaders should disqualify any act as being the action of a truly free person, that would eliminate every single traditional custom in every culture in every country in the entire world.

You’re saying....it’s not a legitimate expression unless literally every single Muslim woman who wears one fully understands what it means? What if it means different things to different women? Do you have some sort of definition that you personally approve you’d like to share with us?

The intention of separation of church and state is that public facilities, laws, and institutions should not infringe upon people’s right to practice their religion, nor should they privilege one religion over others. What you’re suggesting by saying “religious activities...don’t belong in schools” is slightly…

It’s all fun and games, Jezzzies, until one of your husbands or brothers or sons decides to destroy a Muslim country, kill tens of thousands of women, because “headscarves take away agency”. Yeah well so do bombs, and the former is always a justification for the latter. Fake ass feminists. You mean “white/western…

I lived in Saudi Arabia for a while and resented the oppressive environment big time. However, it’s not correct to say that only women are required to cover up. Men are supposed to dress modestly too. For example, you’d never see a man in shorts at the mall. But yeah, the expectations of modesty are much higher for…

You are an idiot.