Veiling, Burqas and Western Feminism

[Nat]

A friend of mine had a recent facebook rant after running across a woman in a burqa. The burqa'd woman was walking with a woman wearing a khimar. My friend said she was surprised when they walked by that they were both speaking unaccented American English. While she didn't take issue with the khimar, she had a real problem with the obliteration of the burqa'd woman's face - she felt like the woman was being robbed of her humanity.



I'm just really wondering what the thoughts on veiling are within *this* community. I think there are many feminists among us, even though the barbs of feminism sometimes sting the butch-femme and trans communities. I would also imagine we may have (or will have) some Muslims among us - and maybe some Muslim feminists?

I think it's a lot easier to look at another culture and ascribe victim/oppressor meaning to different customs, and I even think there's a fair amount of projection in doing so. I imagine a woman can wear a burqa from a feminist, empowered place or from a very disempowered place or from a purely spiritual place, etc.

I feel like even beginning this thread is objectifying in a way, but at the same time I feel like there is a tension within Western feminism between respecting cultural and religious customs and fighting against patriarchy everywhere, and I hope this topic is worthy of discussion.

Anyway, I'd love to know the perceptions, perspectives, thoughts and experiences within this community regarding veiling.