Islamic Like Me: Does This Burka Make Me Look Fat?

Danielle Crittenden wore a burka for a week during her daily life in Washington, D.C. Click here to see a video of her experience, which appears in Canada's National Post. Click here to read Part One.

Part Two: Does This Burka Make Me Look Fat?

It looks like laundry day in a mourning Victorian household. I've got a large pile of black fabric in front of me, which I have to sort into cloaks, gloves and headcoverings.

Once separated, I have to figure out how to put them on. The cloak (abaya) seems straightforward enough: It could double as a vampire cape for Halloween. I find the armholes in the folds, and wrap the whole thing around my shoulders. It drapes down to my ankles. As I turn before the mirror, I notice goiter-like bumps at my hips. Oh great -- this is going to be even more flattering than I thought! But surely this can't be right?

Vexingly, there are no enclosed Ikea-like diagrams with cheerful balloon people, suitable for all languages. A search online turns up nothing helpful (keywords: burka abaya hijab how to wear). There are many sites that show you how to style a headscarf, but the abaya is taken for granted -- as in, only an idiot wouldn't know how to put it on.

I had opted (blithely, in retrospect) for the most conservative, Saudi-style of abaya (i.e. velcro not included). So I improvise: I pull the top part over my head, as if I'm about to run out in the rain, and then tuck in another piece under my left shoulder so the front stays closed, sort-of.

Then comes the niqab, or face-covering mask. Fortunately, the salesman at the Falls Church, Va., Islamoboutique showed me how to wear it; more fortunately, it uses Velcro.(:-D!). I wrap it around my head, fastening it over the cloth at the back. Then I flip back the outer two layers of veil to reveal the eye-slit.

The last uncovered parts of me are my hands -- which, as they move about my head, adjusting the mask, resemble the disembodied stars of a shadow puppet show. I pull on my gloves and stand up. The rest of my body vanishes under the lumpy folds of cloth. I've worn a black longsleeve t-shirt, yoga pants, and boots beneath the abaya (the closest thing I have in my wardrobe to colorless Arabic undergarments).

I take in the sight of me fully veiled for the first time. The emoticon for an Islamic woman in shock might be this: ( : ) ! To my Western eye, I look like Mrs. Darth Vader.

"Wow. Weird," says cameraman Brent Foster, when I unveil the veiled edition of myself. He is 25 and has already done assignments throughout the Middle East. The costume is not "weird" to him per se -- only the thought of someone like me inside it.

Brent will be my male companion for the next few days. He will discreetly record how I go about my daily life in Islamic dress and the reactions of people to me. More usefully, I quickly realize, he will be able to help me simply get around.

For one of the first things I notice is that I can't see my feet -- or really anything much below my nose -- unless I bend forward to look down, but then the mask slips up my face and blocks my eyes. Also, my peripheral vision is severely impaired. I have to turn my head like a whiplash victim to compensate for the "blind spots" on either side.

The worst part about the outfit, though, is the sudden shortage of oxygen. I assume it's not as bad, say, as would be pulling a plastic bag over my head. The fabric is, after all, "breathable." But the flow is definitely reduced; the mask flutters in front of my mouth as I gasp for air.

"I think you're going to have to drive." I hand the cameraman my car keys, a metal bundle festooned with grocery swipe cards and a cheezy plasticized photo of my youngest daughter posing with her favorite TV characters, the Power Rangers. (Maybe that's what I look like: an al-Jazeera version of the Black Ranger.)

As we go to the car, I notice my impulse is to hunch and shuffle as I walk. Part of this is because I need to gather up the cloak in front of me so I don't trip. But also, there is something psychological going on: as if the weight and constriction of the outer clothing constricts the personality on the inside too. I'm also trying to manage my purse, which I can no longer simply sling over my shoulder. When I sit down in the car, the abaya pulls even more and my mask slips. I shift around trying to settle everything while blindly fumbling for my seat-belt. Brent watches with bemusement.

"I think I need safety pins. Like, urgently."

"Sure, where can we get those?"

"The drugstore."

"Fine. Just tell me where it is."

As I give directions to my cameraman-turned-driver, I feel my first loss of real freedom -- having to be driven by someone else. It's not like being in a taxi or an airport limousine, or the luxury of having a private chauffeur. I'm sitting in my own car, in my own city, completely dependent upon the visitor I am ostensibly showing around.

This dependency is, in fact, quite true to life. If I were an Islamist woman living in the Middle East, I'd need a male escort like him whenever I emerged from the house (strictly speaking, he would have to be related to me). In Saudi Arabia, where women aren't permitted to drive at all, I would require his services full-time -- at least if I were to live anything resembling what I take for granted as a normal life.

But that, as I'd quickly discover, was about to go too.

Photographs by Brent Foster, National Post

TOMORROW: 'Why don't you just take it off?'

Comments

[lungfish]

It is hard for me to believe that a burqa is intended to do anything but allow men to avoid accountability for their own sexuality and to villanize and control women.

I really look forward to following your experiment, it is a good idea and based on a good faith effort to understand... good luck!!

[lungfish]

I lived in Berkeley in the late 80s through the mid 90s, not far from Telegraph Avenue, on Dwight Way. The city was noted for its liberal laws regarding cannabis, and ecological leadership. It faced a terrific challenge dealing with Reagan's stance on the mentally ill and I recall we did what we could to help though a lot of those folks died on those streets.... I think the most interesting development relative your study is that, at one point, the city passed an ordinance allowing people to go naked.

It was a really interesting 6months or so. I recall seeing naked people sitting on towels at the Cafe Mediteranean, sipping lattes and reading papers as if nobody noticed. We almost got used to it and probably would have with a little more time. They only came out when it was warm, anyway.

Of course Bezerkeley is a college town and there were thousands of young people wandering the streets as well, many were not Americans and they were obviously challenged.

I only saw one sicko... standing on the corner of Durant and Telegraph with mirrored sunglasses and a raging erection as the various victims of his now semi-legal exposure were forced to decide if they could just walk by or go around the block... he was the only example of inappropriateness in the whole experiment that I am aware of.

We had a guy living in our building, Andrew, who was also known as "the Naked Guy" who attended all classes wearing nothing at first and then a pair of bandanas tied to stategically imply coverage. Sometimes he wore advertizing stickers clinging to his pubes... Always in a crowd of girls, Andrew was... Clearly they thought he was an attractive man - 6'plus, olive complected and healthy build.

Very interesting study in role reversal and objectification.

Nudist have always pointed out that there is a certain relaxation that comes from shedding clothes and I have to say that they are probably on to something.

[isis]

A great idea for a story. Interesting.

[montestruc]

May I gently point out that while indeed the dress code restrictions on Muslim women are more onerous than that of the west in general, we have a dress code as well and will put people in jail for violation of it.

While indeed I can agree that the Muslim dress code is more restrictive, it does seem a bit hypocritical for we in the west to say some of the things I have seen posted here.

If the Muslims will impose criminal sanctions on women for exposing their face, while we will impose criminal sanctions on women for exposure of other parts of their anatomy, even for example a mother nursing her child, are we any better in principle?

[gingerakimbo]

I encourage everyone to more deeply explore Islam and the Middle East, beyond what the news would have you believe. I think I still have a lot to learn, but having grown up with a Muslim friend and studying Islam in my college courses has really opened my eyes to the outright lies the media perpetuates about Muslims and their religion. While racial prejudice has become largely uncouth, it is still acceptable to express fear and hatred of Muslims: Islamophobia.

Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance, yet like most other religions, there are fundamentalist movements that often pervert the religion. Unfortunately, these are the only Muslim voices we hear.

Again like most other religions, Islam does have scriptural dictates that can be seen as inequitable to women. There are, however, a range of interpretations, from liberal to fundamentalist. For example, some argue that veiling is not explicitly required by the Koran, and a photographic survey of Muslim women around the world would show a range of different cultural expressions of the veil, or lack thereof. For many Muslim women, veiling is a spiritual act, but this aspect is taken away when the practice is made compulsory by a state. It leaves the spiritual and becomes a matter of politics.

Let's break down this 'us' and 'them' dichotomy. The differences may not be as vast as one would imagine, and we all share much common ground.

May I suggest:
Muslim poetry- read Rumi!
Muslim feminism, Saba Mahmood, Fawzi Afzal-Khan

Over semester break, I plan on getting into Edward Said's Orientalism. From what I have read, this book is an excellent starting point for an exploration of the Muslim stereotype historically.

Just for fun- http://www.muslim-a-day.com/

Also: Judgment, judgmental...no e between the g and m!

[Ashraft]

I appreciate your 'experiment' but a few criticisms.

"If I were an Islamist woman living in the Middle East, I'd need a male escort like him whenever I emerged from the house"

As someone that has lived in the Middle East, I can tell you that your statement is false. Replace Middle East with Saudi Arabia or Iran (which is also not entirely true). There is nothing in Islam that subjects women as such; this is a perversion of culture.

Plus, the burka, the nigab and the gloves are not Islamic by any sense. Islam permits the woman to show her palms, feet and face provided you do not show any curves of course!

If you are trying to live a week in the life of a Saudi woman, a burka wearing Saudi woman (the burka is not mandatory enywhere) then tell us. But you are certainly not living a week in the life of an everyday Islamic woman. My mom is Muslim, has lived for decades in the Middle East and has never worn a hijan, burka, or Nigab.

[DatelessNerd]

Wow, that burka really shows off your eyes!

[MagisterLudi]

Arguably, sexual oppression of men AND women in Muslim societies is what's driving the downward trend of Muslim civilization.
Where else but in Muslim countries do witness teeming mobs of frenzied (frustrated) young men in the street literally frothing at the mouth. Instead of channeling their youthful energies into study, creation and love, some power hungry mullahs drive these young men towards murder, suicide and religious intolerance.
Women who get prison sentences for being raped is but a side effect of that psychological warping.

[mommadona]

AHA!

The proverbial rubber meeting the road.

Keep going, dear. This is very enlightening.

And thanks for doing it!

[THATSWHATUGET]

Umph!

The obvious: The condescension.

Word choice aside, this is not an "outfit."

Being born African and male in the U.S., my experience is that women run the roost, and are queen of all they survey.

I was offended when I was living in Egypt and was frist introduced this form of women's wear, the thought of any woman related to me putting that on was way too much to consider, and I would burst-out laughing every time I thought about it.

I would internally refer to the women going about their business in hegab as 'ghosts'.

After I had lived in Cairo for more than a year, I felt that I had the 'question capital' with my Egyptian friends to finally start asking the stupid questions (being of the American experience, I knew better than to start asking right-away like white people do us in the U.S. --I really wanted to 'know', not be given the tourist answer)

N.E. Way, I "get it," I *think*.

I know that I don't have an opinion because it is not of my cultural experience and I don't have to wear one.

Egypt is most liberal of Muslim societies, so women present themselves in all form of cover and non-cover.

I thinks it is punk-assed and offensive to put on a cultural garb and then dismiss it as an inconvenience to the life and lifestyle of the appropriator.

This is the kind of sh*t that really boils the blood of other cultures about Europeans.

Though in the abstract is is certainly reasonable that one would express the comparison or contrasting of some expeirience or "thing" of another culture to one's own.

The rub is the Euro-centrism of it all -- Missy Ann Don't like it, therefore it's worthless and likely stupid.

[rabb046]

I don't see much difference between the burka and the outfit of Sister Wendy, the "Semi-Spiritual Guide", featured elsewhere in HuffPost Living. Besides, isn't Saudi Arabia our ally?

[hughbetcha]

I hate to be pedantic but it would be more proper to say `if I were a(n) MUSLIM woman' rather than `an Islamist woman.' Followers of Islam are Muslims. I have also heard people on radio and television refer to Muslims as `Islamics' which is wrong and makes us Americans look like dopes - like referring to Jews as `Judaics.' sorry for being boring.

[matahari888]

Typical westerners...you've been judging by society based on your look, your body, your hairstyle, your nail color or your leg....and every other part that on the surface....then...mentally because of that...women spend more time and money just to make what they think is better appearence so they have place in society who put them on leverage based on the apprearence...like boob job....nose job....tumy tuck and etc.....I feel sorry for women who strugle everyday life to make her self look pretty, slim or whatever....neglected what's in your head and heart.....Wake up before it's too late..

[MagisterLudi]

Great performance piece concept. Hope to hear about it. The two pictures tell a powerful story already: between hopelessly backward lifestyle and freedom.