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Dressing for success
I was reading in a climbing magazine last night that there's a thriving women's ice-climbing and mountaineering scene in Iran, and even an annual Iranian women's ice-climbing contest. I couldn't find anything on the net about the contest, but I did find this story on the Alpine Club of Iran's website, suggesting that female mountaineering is indeed alive and well in Iran.
Said climbing magazine¹ claimed that part of the reason is that mountaineering is one of the few sports that can be pursued to a high level (or indeed any level) without Islamic dress codes getting in the way.
I can't decide if that's really cool or just messed up.
Edit: some background to my befuddlement is perhaps necessary. In his memoir Mountaineering in Scotland, W.H. Murray talks about a dog of his, who had been up innumerable mountains with him - indeed, she was a better slab climber than he was - and easily met the criteria for joining the Scottish Mountaineering Club, but was barred by reason of her gender. Species was no obstacle. This was despite the many pioneering ascents which had been made by women in both Scotland and the Alps by this time.
¹ which is, of course, Western, and thus perhaps not in possession of the full facts.
Said climbing magazine¹ claimed that part of the reason is that mountaineering is one of the few sports that can be pursued to a high level (or indeed any level) without Islamic dress codes getting in the way.
I can't decide if that's really cool or just messed up.
Edit: some background to my befuddlement is perhaps necessary. In his memoir Mountaineering in Scotland, W.H. Murray talks about a dog of his, who had been up innumerable mountains with him - indeed, she was a better slab climber than he was - and easily met the criteria for joining the Scottish Mountaineering Club, but was barred by reason of her gender. Species was no obstacle. This was despite the many pioneering ascents which had been made by women in both Scotland and the Alps by this time.
¹ which is, of course, Western, and thus perhaps not in possession of the full facts.
no subject
My take on the islamic dress thing:
as per victorian dress code, sight of an ankle was enough to induce faintness. The more you cover up, the more you make exotic - to an extent anyway. The veil doesnt make anyone better, it assumes everyone is crap and not to be trusted, and in doing so makes women a target for all sorts of crap.
I dont want to wear the veil, and that the places where wearing it makes sense from a personal protection point of view *frighten the life out of me*, but looking at France for example: I don't think you cant protect women from people telling them what to wear by... telling them what to wear
I might actually I'd be quite in favour of France's ideological attempt if it wasnt handled so idiotically and I have a lot more time for people who research what the hijab is rather than just slinging a burka on.
In terms of sports - its not really the *clothing* that is restricting anybody if they are adamant on wearing hijab
Diving: wear a dry suit
Climbing: this topic has been covered
Cycling: they manage fine in burkha/shalwaar kameez in India/Pakistan
If you assume baggy top and baggy trousers and a hat then the world of skateboarding is open to you. Yes absolutely if you want to be a runner and fully covered up you will get too hot. Or you might research baggy pertex outfits. Restrictions on exposing the body apply to Muslim men as well...
I just think that a lot of girls have to get past the 'girls dont do that' cultural attitude way way way before clothing options become the limiting factor.
no subject
I've read (though I can't remember where) that cultures where women go bare-breasted find the Western obsession with breasts totally bizarre - the kind of thing that only babies should display.
Thighs, on the other hand...