What I learned in Istanbul: Headscarf controversy

The wearing of a headscarf was really not something that had ever bothered me. I feel people can do as they please as long as it doesn't infringe on my rights or liberty.

I have visited Istanbul many times, each time over the last few years I have noticed a steady incline of women wearing headscarves. There are beautiful women wearing casual clothing and a simple headscarf. Not a problem and quite pleasing to the eye.

Then I noticed women wearing headscarves AND long dresses..ok...AND A FULL COAT to the floor! In the heat of the summer, Istanbul can reach 35 Degrees Celsius. I was feeling hot, this woman must have been really hot. Torture is a word I enjoy using...but not in this context.

Maybe it has something to do with my own personal views. But the next thing I saw made me angry. In the blistering heat of noon, in an restaurant seated outside sat a woman. On her own at a table, she was dressed in a full Hijab - wearing gloves, her face and eyes covered. She was trying to eat soup, which she could only do by lifting the bottom of her Niqāb up a little, then lowering it again.

Seated behind her at another table was her husband, in T Shirt and shorts. Sitting with friends he was enjoying his lunch. occasionally, he would turn around and check on her.

I'm not sure what I feel. I believe in 'choice' and 'Freedom to choose'. What am I supposed to feel when I see something which I find unequal? We must always accept others opinions and views. How they choose to live their lives is their choice - I cannot pass judgemnet. But, I don't feel comfortable with what I have seen.

I am aware that currently in Turkey there is a Headscarf contraversy.. I can see why. there is a fear among people that by allowing the wearing of a headscarf, the Niqāb, Hijab and Burqa are not far away.

Political freedom, religious freedom and Kemalist Ideology are clashing. And a real friction is growing among people in Istanbul. One thing I know...Being a (good) Muslim does not mean the wearing Niqāb, Hijab or Burqa.

A little background: Turkey has been a secular state since it was founded by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in 1923. He introduced the secularization of the state in the Turkish Constitution of 1924, alongside Atatürk's Reforms. These were in accordance with the Kemalist Ideology, with a strict appliance of laicite in the constitution. 
Atatürk saw headscarves as backward-looking and an obstacle to his campaign to secularize and modernize the new Turkish Republic. The issue of the headscarf debate has been very intense and controversial since it was banned.[1] Turkey is a secular country and over 95% of its people are Muslims.[2] It has resulted in a clash between those favouring the secular principles of the state, such as the Turkish Army,[3] and those who are more conservative with their religious beliefs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headscarf_controversy_in_Turkey

What I learned in Istanbul - Fashion

A Lot!
I've been many times to Istanbul, nut this time, I made a point of REALLY looking around - Not at the sights, but at the people.

FEMALES:

The women practice natural beauty - much like my discoveries in Paris. They are stylish and chic, dress with sophistication and in a classic manner. 

They seem to invest in key pieces, quality over price and wear what suits them. 

They eat sensibly, exercise and look after themselves. 

And the hair... Long, luscious and natural.

When I returned to my hometown of Reading I suddenly felt I had been dropped into a 'fashion disaster zone'. 

I won't start mumbling about my personal views, instead I'll leave you with this:

Vivienne Westwood criticises Britain’s bad dress sense

Queen of fashion Dame Vivienne Westwood is known for making bold statements - and this time she has some strong words for the British public.

Dame Vivienne slated Britain’s sense of style, saying “people have never looked so ugly” when it comes to fashion.

 Westwood said ‘conformist’ shoppers and cheap clothes have given society a ‘generic look’.

Dame Vivienne blamed the rise of cheap “disposable” clothes for curbing individuality and added that the only well dressed women are usually in their 70s, because they know how to choose investment pieces.

 The 70-year-old told reporters: “Everybody looks like clones and the only people you notice are my age. I don’t notice anybody unless they look great, and every now and again they do, and they are usually 70.”

Courtesy of Yahoo  http://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/vivienne-westwood-criticises-britain%E2%80%99s-bad-dress-sense.html

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IS THERE SUCH A THING AS GAY TRANSPHOBIA?

My personal view of whether there is a bias towards transgendered people among the gay/lesbian community is a definite 'yes!' - but from individuals.

However, as to whether the bias is widespread, rooted deep within the community is questionable. 

Personally, I became aware of possible bias from the gay / lesbian community when I hosted a 'trans' event within a gay pub in Reading. It was during this event, the interactions I witnessed started me wondering whether, what I experienced was a one off prejudice, by one or two people, or a general bias towards transgendered people by the gay community.


I do not believe it is wide spread. But below are some articles outlining a different view. 

A discussion on this topic would be most welcome.

Transgender community face hate speech from Lesbian and Gay people.

Transphobia is not something that just happens because of heteronormativity. As we gradually make our way through the end of the first decade of the 21st century this much becomes clear; homonormativity is just as virulent as its sibling. A scenario between two South African activists -one a transsexual man and the other, a lesbian- during which the lesbian activist said, “once born a woman you will die a woman” and admits to saying so is typical of transphobic slur. The difference here is she admitted to casting the aspersion. Usually you are met with a barrage of denials which is symptomatic of bully cultures. The problem we face now is whether we like it or not, this is happing in our communities.

BDSM women's spaces and transphobia

When bending gender around can be described as a fetish, and you combine that with a sizeable population of transmen and transwomen in a smallish subculture, the results can be explosive, confusing and often pretty offensive.

Of all the arguments I've seen pan out in the BDSM community, the debates over where transwomen are 'allowed' to be and what they represent are often the longest and most heated.

We've had the argument over the personal ads, whether transwomen should have to put themselves in a separate category from other women so men don't have to look at their profiles. We've argued at great length about the London Ladies' Munch, who took a democratic decision to only allow physically transitioned transwomen in. I get what they were trying to do (which I'll explain later..) and think the move was well-intentioned, but it resulted in a lot of people using the contention over exactly what constituted 'fully transitioned' to have a grand transphobic rant. We've also had an argument about women's toilets at clubs and who should be allowed in them, which resulted in the same.