[Hayat R.]

Why do most Americans find the nun outfit (head covering and long dress) acceptable, but think it's wrong for Muslim women to cover their heads and bodies?

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Name : Hayat R., Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Caucasian/Asian mix, Religion : Muslim, Age : 20, City : Islamabad, State : NA Country : Pakistan, Occupation : Journalist, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Mike]

It's not that Americans think it's wrong for Muslim women to cover their heads and bodies, but more that some (myself included) think it is wrong that women are forced against their will to become Muslim and, among ultra-conservative Muslim sects, forced to wear Hijabis. As we have seen with the Taliban, in some instances women are beaten if they do not comply. Catholic women choose to become nuns, and part of that choice is accepting that they may be required to wear a habit (it's been ages since I've seen a nun in full habit). If a woman were forced to become Catholic and then forced into the nunhood and forced to wear a habit, I would think that just as wrong as forcing a woman to become Muslim and wear a Hajibi. One of the reasons behind the forming of the United States was to escape religious persecution, and one of the tenets we hold strongest is freedom of religion.

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Name : Mike, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Gay, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 42, City : Ben Lomand, State : CA Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, 

[Rick29908]

Actually, Americans often make fun of nuns' outfits. Anyway, nobody thinks it's wrong for women (Muslim or otherwise) to cover themselves as you say, rather that they should not be forced to do so.

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Name : Rick29908, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Atheist, City : Springfield, State : OH Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Mark]

It's not that it's wrong for women to cover their heads and bodies, it's that it's wrong to force them to do so. Nuns may be required by their order to wear a habit, but they join the order by choice and may leave it whenever they wish. Many of us Americans are also appalled by France's recent laws prohibiting the wearing of head coverings. As with many things religious, the general compromise here in America is that all should be allowed but none should be required.

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Name : Mark, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Atheist, Age : 40, City : Chicago, State : IL Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[A. Jacobi]

The habits of many nuns (as well as monks and priests)are based on Medieval clothing from when the order began. They are often in rough, drab fabric as an outward sign of their devotion to poverty and service to God. Also, the shapelessness of the clothing displays a sense of modesty and humbleness - much like the hajib. Additionally, the habit is a clear sign, a uniform, that shows that they have taken the vows. I went to Catholic schools for 17 years (kindergarten through college). Most nuns I have dealt with do not wear habits - they wear 'normal' clothes. After the Vatican II conference, many things in the Catholic Church changed, including the requirement to wear habits. Some of the older nuns keep the habit (sorry for the pun), while some orders still require it.

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Name : A. Jacobi, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 26, City : Alexandria, State : VA Country : United States, Occupation : Analyst, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

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