The Strengths and Weaknesses of Veiled Intentions

The Strengths and Weaknesses of Veiled Intentions by Maysan Haydar 

 Veiled Intentions by Maysan Haydar was a very interesting reading that I enjoyed. Hayar was very successful for getting her point across in a clear and appropriate way. She wanted her audience to understand the truth about being a Veiled Muslim woman. Haydar has many strengths in her reading that really catches the reader’s attention. When she states, “I've been covering my hair, as is prescribed for Muslim women, since I was twelve years old. And while there are many good reasons for doing so, I wasn't motivated by a desire to be different, to honor tradition, or to make a political statement.” Haydar is trying to express how she enjoys being covered and that she isn’t being forced because it is a part of her religious tradition. Most people assume that all Muslim women dread being veiled, when really that’s not the case according to Haydar. When she says, “I embrace the veil's modesty, which allows me to be seen as a whole person instead of a twenty-piece chicken dinner.” She wants the audience to realize that it is better to be covered than wearing skimpy clothes, which most of society dresses like today. She believes it is unfortunate for the people who don’t respect themselves rather than the people who do. “In Sunclay school, girls are taught that our bodies are beautiful”. Most people say the Muslim traditions want to keep to women from appreciating their bodies, when they really were taught to love what they look like. Allthough Haydar has many strong points, she also has week assertions. In her reading, she is speaking only among herself. Even though she may honor and respect being veiled, not all women feel that way. She doesn’t really have any facts to back up her statements and thoughts. Haydar uses a lot of “I” rather than “we” which makes me question if other Muslim women feel the same way as her. Haydar also uses quotes that don’t indicate who is saying them. She uses mostly pathos instead of logos and ethos.

Veiled Threats

Veiled Threats?

Every country has different beliefs, religions, practices, and ways of living their lives. Not only do religions have their own way of teachings but they also require conscience, which is very important to people’s dignity. In Veiled Threats, by Martha Nussbaum, Nussbaum questions what is it to treat people with equal respect in areas touching on religious belief and observance, specifically in Muslim woman. Just like Democracy over Republic, Nussbaum believes that the minority of Muslims is not being treated equally to the majority of society. She covers the five arguments that are commonly made in favor of proposed bans. The point Nussbaum is trying to make is that people are trying to ban the burqa because it is causing problems through out the nation when really that is completely wrong and unfair. People can wear scarves covering their faces during the cold, but Muslim women cant cover their faces in public. Also, she states that women may cover their bodies as a way of being objective to males, but the rest of the women get plastic surgery, wear tight attire, and pose in nude photos for men. Nussbaum feels that society is being hypocritical because they judge Muslim women for respecting their religious beliefs yet society preaches about the equality in the United States.