blogging it

burqa on hallowe'en

I haven't had the courage to wear the burqa but as it was Hallowe'en and of course anything goes then, I forced myself out in it this time. I took myself to my favorite mall which was open till 9 and includes movies. I wandered the mall for the hour till 9pm. I hung around the bar entrance watching large schoolbuses disgorge scantily clad women who stumbled and tumbled drunkenly out of the doors. I found it extremely amusing to contrast my costume with theirs. Women with so little fabric on them that less would count as beach wear, and me covered literally head to toe in a large flowing sack. Not even my face visible.
It was amusing that I could make any expression I liked, stare as long as I liked at anyone, and even do things like pick my nose (well, rub tickles on it) without anyone noticing. As I walked around the mall it seemed like a lot of people were in costumes, some as all-covering as mine, some very scary ones too. However, I, in my flowing pink burqa, was the scariest one there. I kid you not! People frowned, pointed, whispered, stared boldly, and turned their heads to follow me as we passed. They were openly unnerved by my appearance. I've worn some mighty unnerving costumes, being creative and weird as I am, but this was unquestionably the most frightening in result. I walked boldly into a jewellery store and the clerk handled me with extreme grace. As she took me back to the back counter to see a display that interested me I lifted the veil. After all, it was just me and a woman. A moslem would be allowed to do so there. It's for men to not see you, that's all. She told me it was a great costume and we twittered a bit over it.
On the way home I stopped at Broadway, Saskatoon's main party street, to walk once up and down the street. Up one side, down the other, back across, and back to the car, wearing my burqa. Again, sensational results. People were staring, reluctant to engage, and generally unnerved. When I got home and talked about it with Dan he said they were afraid of the terrorist and then, finally, it clicked. I represented terrorists in so many of those people's minds! The current most evil symbol is one dressed as an extremist moslem and nothing is more faceless and opressive than these burqas.
Now I keep wondering how they'll react after hallowe'en. I wouldn't be surprised if they are openly hostile with me. Curiously enough, it makes me feel more inclined to try it out. Well it does tonight anyway. Whether that feeling will be there when it's time to measure up and actually do the job, it could be as it's been since I got the garment: Easier said than done. I keep thinking a ride on transit could be very entertaining so maybe. If I do, you'll know about it here!
How it felt to wear it in public. Well it was hot. I had to take off my sweater eventually and then I was still warm until I'd sat still in the movie long enough to lose my body heat. I got a bit... fragrant. I liked the feeling of privacy though. Every time I've worn it I've felt a weird freedom. You can look openly and frankly at anyone you like. You don't have to engage with them when they look at you. You can grin wildly like a maniac and they can't see it. If you're feeling weepy, you can cry or frown and again, no reaction to your expression from others. Bad hair day? Who cares, nobody can see it. Itchy nose? Pick it. LOL You can dig in your purse or play with your PDA under there and nobody sees a thing. In spite of standing out like a christmas tree in July, you're completely private. A faceless entity. I can understand why a woman voluntarily dons the veil even after she is legally freed from it. It feels safer inside. You're safe from male lust. Safe from strangers judgment. Safe from intrusive social interactions. With a male family member escorting you, you're also more or less safe from physical assault. It really is a very secure feeling.