True Left

"contemporary Islamic dress codes as visually sexually dimorphic in their own right on account of such codes employing different articles of clothing for men than for women"

The key is to clearly explain that different dress practices for men and for women does not necessarily correspond to celebration of sexual dimorphism, so long as the particular practices are designed to disguise (rather than accentuate) the sexual dimorphism of the practitioners.

"those dress codes reduce the visual sexual dimorphism of women without simultaneously reducing the visual sexual dimorphism of men to the same degree."

This is a valid criticism and one which I have raised myself in the past. Why should women do more work than men in dressing up? They should not. But the point here is that Western dress also requires women to do more work than men in dressing up, yet this extra work is done by women in order to increase their visible sexual dimorphism! Thus both Western and Islamic dress codes (sadly) require women to do more work, but for opposite objectives, and comparing only the objectives allows us to conclude that Islamic dress code is at least trying to aim in a good direction (albeit with much room for improvement).

"an idealized version of the Islamic dress code according to Mohammedan standards to the audience receiving our message. What might such a dress code look like relative to the existing ones?"

The main issue is how to cover hair. I personally would say that hats/turbans are adequate, though societies which want headscarves should be allowed to keep using them on the condition that men be required to wear them also. I also support the alternative of shaving the head.

Related:

https://trueleft.createaforum.com/colonial-era/re-genghis-khan/msg4142/#msg4142

Upon reading this post, I remembered seeing this comic a while ago:

Reza "Eurocentrist" Pahlavi:


Why do all these constitutional "monarchs" dress in Western "regal" attire? At least the Arab theocrats have a better sense of fashion.

How some African women are bringing back tattoo traditions erased by colonization

This video explores African women's connection to tattooing and scarification, looking at how that connection was lost as a result of colonization. We follow Jessica Horn and Laurence Sessou on their mission to reverse centuries of colonialism, the erasure of traditional tattoo practices and the impact this has had on women's relationship with their bodies. This story is part of As Equals, CNN's ongoing series on gender inequality. For information about how the series is funded and more, check out our FAQs. #CNN #News

Comments:

In 2023  an estimated 6.3 million children under five died, 2.9 million of them in the WHO African Region. This is equivalent to five children under 5 years of age dying every minute. Two thirds of these deaths can be attributed to preventable causes. A third of all these deaths are in the neonatal period. 1:37

R:

What a beautiful stat to know. Sad though. But Africa is a continent, home to 1 billion people, 54 countries,  over 2,500 languages with a rich history. But colonialism, neo-colonialism, slavery. The continent just had the last 60 years to get itself together, a feat that took the US, over 400 yrs and counting to achieve.

Breathe, a story on tattoo will not kill you, if you watch and not catastrophise

Congratulations to you. I am French, of Berber origin from Morocco. In Berber culture, women traditionally used to tattoo different parts of their bodies, a tradition that unfortunately is no longer perpetuated due, among other reasons, to religion. Some women even go as far as to have their tattoos removed, an entire aspect of this culture that is disappearing.

Why everything that they said or done have to bring some form of victim mentality in it?

R:

In order to decolonize one must first acknowledge the negative affects of colonialism on one's own culture. This is not a victim mentality.