Freedom of Dress
I had no idea that this phrase actually existed. I was not sure it was even correct. But beloved google told me that it is an existing phrase that describes the freedom to wear the clothes of one’s choice, i.e. without outside pressure, prohibition or legal sanctions.
When i thought about this title, I had a very simple idea in mind; marveling at how comfortable average spanish women look in their daily dressing modes…… No one cares, no one stares, no one gives obscene remarks,… it is almost impressive!
Obviously i am excluding immigrants and minorities in this statement. I am also excluding the contravery of the niqab and the hijab in Europe, in addition to the contraversy that is created by different things such as German Ad Liaison Dangereuse Sexiness for everyone, which left me completely confused. Mostly because it was one of few things i did not know how i felt about… did i like it? did i hate it? was it offensive? was it empowering? What was it?
Let´s put all contraversy in Europe aside and bring the focus to our side of the world. It hit me that notions of human rights place a high value on free speech in our side of the world while barely addressing clothing.
Freedom of dress is just another freedom we lack in Jordan. However purely by social and self imposed restrictions… (like most things really) The thing is we don´t see freedom of dress as an essential aspect of free expression. We see it as part of a collective identity that is imposed either by peers or by authoritarian systems. (this include both parts of Amman).
I am not sure why two particular stories occur to me now. A young woman reported a case of sexual harrassment by a university professor. It truly surprised me that her male peers said that this happened because she did not wear a jilbab (she adopts the headscarf and is actually conservative… I mean she is not one of those who cover their hair but forget to cover other parts of their bodies). She was hurt by the comments then: she wondered what did her society want more of her.
The other story took place a few months ago, when a young friend was heart broken because her mother would not let her buy a particular brand. When questioned about the reason she wanted to buy that brand. She admitted that if she did not wear it, her peers would marginalize her and belittle her. Needless to say the brand in question was outside her parents cultural league. Worst yet, it was neither her style nor her passion to wear as was expected… but she felt obliged to wear it in order to appease and to fit in.
These two girls can not practice any form of freedom of self expression even though they are both conforming to society. One to peers and the other to a patriarchal system.
It is interesting to me that this paricular type of oppression affects women more than men and i wonder if it would have had more value on the agenda of fight for freedom if men were affected more?
No resolutions today… the whole post if a fleeting thought.
The freedom to “dress” is different from freedom of speech. Even in countries that highly respect freedom of speech, there is a dress code for almost every place. College may not allow some dresses like being topless for both men and women. Teaching staff have to wear business clothes. The majority of work places have dress codes. Many restaurants and local stores have dress codes.
In Jordan, freedom to “dress” is not limited by law but rather by sexually-oppressed men.
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madas Reply:
July 31st, 2010 at 23:16
I know the line between personal and professional is very thin but it is there. I respect the idea of a dress code in a professional setup. I also respect the idea of a personal dress code that people can wear because they truly believe it is the right thing for them. I also believe in that someone’s freedom end when other people’s freedoms starts. I think that amkes everything more complicated than it really is.
I am not sure only sexually oppressed men are the reason behind limiting freedom of dress in Jordan. It is many things, it is mothers and fathers, and religon andtraditions and…and…and..
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i think your falling into the trap of identifying “free dress” with that of the western standards. you are identifying a “free dress” in terms of how little skin you cover, rather from a “choice” perspective. Whether in spain or in Jordan common dress codes,be it tank tops or 7ijab, are socially structured codes that the society define and redefine with time . Being free to dress will be going against the “normal” or most common dress code” known in a community. So in spain, a free dress will be putting 7ijab or niqab on, while in Jordan it will be going out with a tanktop and a mini skirt in east amman:) You cannot leave the controversy of niqab in europe aside when you go in this argument because it is a “freedom of dress”.
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I totally understand what you are talking about. I mean, it’s seems like you if you don’t dress a certain way you are looked down upon.
I don’t see it as, I’m going to walk topless down the street but as in…I will wear what I deem is appropriate. It’s not someones place to judge me because of what I wear or don’t wear. Simple as that.
I find myself very uncomfortable walking down the street if I am dressed in my usual t-shirt and jeans…Makes me sad, I miss my t-shirt and jeans days!
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