What’s hot and what’s not; Hijab fashions

The doughnut appeared dwarfed in the man’s hand. Sat on the table closest to the street, the delicate café chair creaked under his great weight; “Well what do you think of that mate ?”, he said to his companion, another middle aged man sweating in the heat of the midday sun. The First man was gesturing towards a group of teenage girls, clad in only bikinis which just about covered their meager developments into womanhood. The two sets of wrinkled eyes dragged across the exposed skin, and then agreed it was an inappropriate display; “I hope that my youngest, Kate, would have the sense to put on a t-shirt at least when she got off the beach, I wouldn’t want her walking around like that”.

What women do or do not wear has always been debated. More is less, less is more, to cover up or to bear all?, liberation or exploitation that is the question?. To any young girl this can be a minefield of possible fashion faux pas, to a Muslim girl however, whether or not to cover up is a personal decision which is increasingly taking on wider political connotations.

There is a wealth of current debate all over the world regarding the role of the traditional Muslim Hijab in multicultural societies. In a post 9/11 world many traditional Muslim practices have been brought under suspicion, and this modest form of dress has become a political tool:

“it [The Hijab] is bound to make better, positive relations between the two communities more difficult. It was such a visible statement of separation and of difference.”said British politician Jack Straw this week.

So why does this piece of cloth supposedly offend the sensibilities of so many? Would Mr straw be equally uncomfortable having a conversation with one of the teenagers who has decided to cover their whole face with a pair of ultra hip super sized sun glasses? Surely clothing is up to the individual regardless of their reasoning?

“The extent to which modesty manifests in Muslim’s style of dress and its form, depends on a number of factors such as personal choice and interpretation” say The Islamic Women’s Welfare Council of Victoria.

For Muslim women in the Western world veiling is about choice. This choice is however not just about how they interpret this commitment to their god, but also shopping for the Hijab which compliments their features. There is an increasing market for online fashion stores catering to muslim needs:

“This website is exclusively devoted to those women who believe modesty is beautiful and good. In our line of garments we are presenting all western style clothes, taken from mainstream fashion, which meet the Muslim guidelines of modesty”…………
This feature would aim to address the Hijab at a more personal level, and therefore take it out of the political sphere and into the context of the women themselves. The feature will look at the history and definitions of the multiple head dresses, what they mean to the individual and also take a look at the Headwear fashion industry, such as Headwear Heaven and Hijab fashions

It would be interesting to get some different opinions from Muslim Women’s groups ,such as The National Muslim Women’s Network, on the westernization of the Hijab through fashion stores.

The Muslim human rights commission provides some interesting stats on the Hijab and who is wearing what.

The System Works, It Seems

This week John Howard side stepped defeat by sheepishly Backing down on the proposed Immigration Bill. Having observed the same Prime Minister proceed with Volentary Student Unionism, Work Place changes and most notably the War on Iraq despite opposition; we are forced to ask what was the difference this time.

Was it the four ‘Rebel MPs’ who crossed the floor on moral grounds, was it a lack of commitment to the wishes of the Indonesian Government, who firmly supported the bill, or was it lobbying from outside of Parliament?

The Edmund Rice Center, a research foundation focussed on the human rights of international refugees, was in no doubt of their role in the dissmissal of the contraversial bill. This is evident in an email sent following Howard’s admission;

“The Government has withdrawn their bill to
process asylum seekers off shore on Nauru. The Edmund Rice Centre has
been working hard throughout the week with refugee groups and
parliamentarians to prevent the bill going ahead. Last week we released
findings from our ongoing research monitoring the fate of asylum seekers
returned by Australia. The report found nine cases where asylum seekers
had reportedly been killed on their return. We confirmed two of these
cases before being forced out of Afghanistan for safety reasons, and
discovered a further three cases of children being killed in attacks
targeted at their parents who were asylum seekers returned by Australia
from Nauru”

The Government’s decision is a significant victory for those committed
to human rights and the rule of law. It is a credit the people’s
movement that has formed since the arrival of the Tampa in August 2001,
and to the parliamentarians, particularly those within the Coalition,
who stood up for their beliefs”

The Edmund Rice foundation has received brief coverage in the news for the research it has done in regard to assylum seekers in the Australian system. It still however remains a mystical force which just seems to piss off Amanda Vanstone very effectively.
This feature would profile the Edmund rice centre and take a look at the research they have conducted and its implications for Australia. The feature would contain:

- A Brief outline of the proposed immigration bill and the opposition it received.

- The MP’s who crossed the floor; what they said and why.

- A representative from the Edmund Rice Centre outlining the efforts they made to bring down the proposed bill.

-Outline of the work done by the Edmund Rice Centre, where they get their funding and who is involved.

-Opinion of an immigration lawyer in regard to the possible consequences of the proposed bill.

healing a burned community

It is almost a year since the room at Auburn Girls High School, where The Australian Muslim Women’s National Network (MWNNA) held girls community groups, burnt to the ground. Following several threatening phone calls, MWNNA member Aziza Abdel-Halim woke up one morning to find the school rooms they used each week blackened from the flames of racial violence.

“They had called and said things like; go back to your own country you are not wanted here, which is strange because the network is not specifically immigrant, in fact we have several Anglo Australian members”Aziza said.

“A year on and we still all pile into some ones back room for our meetings, the girls don’t mind, but it is a shame. The police have still not charged anyone. It is a terrible thing for the school as well as us” she said.

The MWNNA now focuses its combined energy on community relations.

“prejudice comes from ignorance so we try to educate people from outside the Islamic community about our faith, we usually just all end up making loads of great friends by the end of the day, and all the serious stuff is forgotten”

The Islamic community often finds itself in the media spotlight. Negative discussion of extremist infiltration and the role of Muslim women, however, dominates the coverage. The Australian National Muslim Women’s Network is working towards a healthier community and this feature would aim to give some coverage to their good work.

Having been attacked themselves, they have bounced back and are hoping to work towards an Australian community which knows its neighbours.

This feature will profile the the Australian National Muslim Women’s Network and outline their activities, and give a voice to the girls who were effected by the fire at Auburn High School.

Following the conflict in Lebanon, the network has spent a lot of time working with the Jewish community in Sydney. It would be interesting to interview some of the ladies who attended the events planned by the network, and also attend an up and coming event in order to get an insight the effects of these gatherings.

The Community Relations Commision of NSW would be able to give some context to the networks efforts.

Terrorvision

The credits roll, unstoppable. The blank screen with unknown names in white text a welcome relief to the experience which preceded them. Then, silence and a sense of bewilderment. Looking around the red velvet seats littered with squished pieces of popcorn provide a stark almost insulting reminder that this is a cinema and this movie was intended as entertainment.

Many felt the strength of the recently released feature length; United 93, was its restraint. The movie strayed away from emotive blockbuster drama and maintained a sense of realness.

“I did feel it was well done, it was not too ‘Hollywood’, but i still felt uncomfortable watching it. It seemed a little wrong that i was getting some kind of entertainment or enjoyment out of loss of lives” Said Hayley, after watching ‘United 93′ at Cronulla Cinemas.

This film tells the story of the only plane which failed to reach its target on September 11th. Directed by Paul Greengrass known for the blockbuster hit; The Bourne Supremacy, this movie focuses on the actions of the forty passengers and the part they played in preventing the terrorists from achieving their goal.

Fives years on, September 11th still seems very fresh in peoples minds. There has however been an influx of movies, documentaries and television dramas dealing with the topic which until recently was deemed too painful.

I personally enjoyed United 93, but then felt guilty for getting a kind of emotional release from other people’s pain. There are of course many movies which deal with equally tragic realities, but there was something about the experience of spending an evening re-living that day with nibbles in my lap which troubled me, and i am sure others to.

There are also less subtle media money making projects which utilize the written drama that was 9/11, and a feature which asks as many viewers as possible their thoughts on this would be interesting, if only to clear up my personal discomfort with the movie.

What do people think about United 93, and the soon to be released; ‘World trade Centre’, are we dwelling on the past and forgetting the current strife in the Middle East which has resulted from ‘that day’?

Is it wrong to make money out of tragedy?, where to next; t-shirts displaying the motif ‘Where were you when the towers blew’?

The feature would include:
- An expert opinion from media studies professor.

-More quotes from viewers.

-Other reviews of the movies.

Integration education

Do schools give young people the skills and knowledge which will equip them to live and work in a multicultural society?. In the past Religious Education meant the time of the day when “we pretended to read the bible and that Lebanese dude sat outside the classroom because he wasn’t Christian” said Jessica a 25 year old Uni student from Sydney. Has this narrow perspective on Religious Studies changed changed?

“not really, if you were out west you would have Muslim lessons but here in Cronulla  we just do scripture. They basically learn about their own religion” said Hayley McConnel a teacher from Cronulla High School.

Could better religious and Cultural education aid social cohesion?

“In the case of the Cronulla riots most people who were involved were past school age, so school based religious and cultural education would be limited in its effects on the current racial tensions in Australia” said Kevin Dunn, a Professor from the University of New South Wales.

This feature would look into current religious education in Sydney’s schools, and particular Cronulla High and Woolooware High schools. Interviews with students and teachers and a look at the state curriculum would provide an interesting insight into how much young people understand the multiple cultures in Australian society, and what opportunities they had to learn more.

Accenting the problem

Its hot, in a sweaty way. The queue of sour faced people overflows out on to the pavement. The take away bags bursting with goodies, are thrust out into the group of waiting people with a shout of a slightly mispronounced name. Kids run around the ankles of the busy staff screaming, and a red faced women restles her way to the front of the counter; “I didn’t order this, I asked for no – pe-per on mine and pe-per on the other one,I want my mon-ey back!”. She then turns to a friend; “I don’t think he understands me”. The shop owner’s brow furrows and a droplet of sweat trembles before embarking on the journey from his hairline to the end of his nose, he looks up; “Yes madam, I do understand you, I will be with you in a minute I am just serving some one” he says through a thick accent.”What!” she replies, redder than ever. ” I can’t understand you……why doesn’t anyone speak English in here!”.

The Vietnamese owner of the Cronulla cafe, Tom, watches the woman storm out, frustrated. “I have been here four years and when I arrived I had no English, originally I lived in Queensland and I learnt English there, but its like a different language down here in Sydney..maaate” he says through a playful smile.

“Sometimes it seems like people don’t want to try to understand you, I realise it must be really frustrating. Customers don’t want to have to strain to here you, that’s why I only hire staff who speak clear English” the owner said.

 ”Language is the biggest problem faced by immigrants, even those who have English skills when they get here struggle with the communication needed to find jobs, friends and services, it can increase isolation”said Rosemary; Humanitarian Case Worker from St George Immigrant Settlement Services.

 ”Recently arrived immigrants who have good English find the Australian accent particularly hard to get to grips with”Rosemary said.

Michaela Bobeck, a tall slender Swedish girl, who lived with her boyfriend in his home town of Bundaburg found people’s reaction to her accent exhausting.

“I was in this ice cream shop in Bundy….wasn’t I bud?” she refers back to her boyfriend in an awkward Swedish style Queensland slang. ” I asked for vanilla, three times and she still was like; ‘what Darle?, I cant get ya’. I was just so tired i asked a fourth time, and then I just started to cry. i have studied English for years ..it is so frustrating, and it makes me feel so home sick”.

It is widely agreed that communication is the key to a successful multicultural society, particularly in the case of recently arrived migrants. The services provided by the government for migrants from non English speaking backgrounds are however limited.

“They are sat in a class room with all different ages and once they have completed the five hundred hours that is it, whatever standard they have reached” said a case worker from Hurstville migrant services centre.

“it is not just language but cultural understanding that is needed and that comes from community projects, of which there are few” she said………..

This feature would aim to address the gap between learning to speak and understand English and having the communication skills and cultural know how to partake in society.

This feature would use the experiences of migrants, and employers to outline the difficulties migrants face on a daily basis. It would also address the existing community projects where newly arrived Australians can interact with those who have been here a long time.