Letters to the Editor
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Polygamy? Genital Mutilation? Bride Burning?
It is not altogether unknown that women particpate in their own oppression, just as the rest of us do in some fashion.
The ostensibe freedom to wear whatever you want is balanced by the rationale of the headscarf, chador, burka, etc., which is to cover 'alluring' women up from the male gaze. The headscarf is nothing but the peasant scarf and the nun's habit, in urban areas.
We ban polygamy, genital mutilation and bride burning, not because we cannot find women who justify these practices on some basis, but that they are harmful to women, no matter what some women think. Admittedly, headscarfs are not physically damaging (except perhaps in reducing Vitamin D from the sun) but they symbolize, I think, male control of women. Sort of like a 'star of david' for women.
Does that justify allowing this 'symbol' of male oppression? Hard question. The dynamics of this in Turkey is that the fundamentalist Grey Wolves and ultra-right are going to use this as a wedge issue to push their whole fundamentalist agenda. Sharia law is dwelling in the background, of course, along with assassination and attacks on women who don't wear the headscarf. It can now be used to control the women who DON"T wear the scarf, publically identifying them to right wing gangs.
So for that reason, I lean against legality.