Two Juxtaposed Images Show That Women Are Always Being Told What To Wear
“It should be banned, wherever it is legally possible” – Angela Merkel
The war on policing women’s bodies continues, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel now proposing a ban on what she terms the “full-face veil”. Coming after the Burkini ban in France this summer, the debate surrounding what Muslim women can do with their own bodies has now severely soured. “It should be banned, wherever it is legally possible,” Merkel said in what seems to be a last attempt to win the support of her CDU party and appease the voters of the right-wing AfD. Unsurprisingly, it garnered the most rapturous applause of the night, and she has won party leadership once again. This reflects a worrying trend across Europe, of politicians catering towards rising nationalism instead of standing by the democratic values.
For Angela Merkel to do this is somewhat suprising, considering that Germany has been a safe haven for refugees that have been rejected across the majority of Europe. This also seems like a clear misfire from a leader who has tried, with varied results, to be somewhat principled over the past few years. Nevertheless, the proposed ban, which seems highly popular in her own party, is simply ludicrous for a number of reasons. Here, we highlight why Merkel’s proposal for a burqa ban is so problematic.
The Politicisation Of Women’s Bodies
Whether it is forcing women to wear them, or forcing them not to wear them, the problem remains the same: women are being told what to do with their own bodies. Rather then letting women make their own sartorial choices, the discourse surrounding the burqa ban is a deliberate attempt to speak on behalf of women instead of letting them speak for themselves.
The links between racism and misogyny are clear. They are both forms of authoritarian control. Thus when politicians look for a scapegoat, it is largely muslim women who find themselves under the highest scrutiny. As long as they remain the highest targets for racist and misogynist abuse, Germany is going to have a hard time building a stronger and more equal society.
Merkel Needs To Show A Stronger Stand Against The Far-Right
After Brexit and the election of Trump, as well as the fall-out from the recent Italian referendum, Angela Merkel is now emerging as the de facto leader of the liberal world. The most important thing for her to do is to not only stop considering the concerns of the aggrieved and populist far-right, but to dismiss them as simply unacceptable in a modern day multi-cultural society.
By catering to anti-Muslim and sexist sentiment, then she is not only eroding centre and left-wing values, but is also validating the far-right’s ideas as tolerable. Instead of winning back right-wing support, this approach will only lead to more people adopting odious and undemocratic ideals not only in Germany, but throughout the rest of Europe.
No easy solutions
Merkel is a very smart woman. Her ability to take time over her decisions and react to events rather than be rash or be led by ideology has led to three successive Chancellorships. This has led many to criticise her that she doesn’t actually have any firm positions other than a mild appreciation for freedom, but it has allowed her to govern Germany, and by extension Europe, through eleven years of tough and difficult times.
If she introduced this five years ago, the response may have been one of mass condemnation, but in today’s climate, the realm of acceptable discourse has moved so far right that this seems like a reasonable proposal. Whether or not Merkel agrees with what she is saying (she didn’t really mean her slogan wir schaffen das), it seems to be a cheap trick to cater for the growing right, when she should be sticking to her guns as one of the last remaining bastions of liberalism in the west.
This Is Not The Way To Promote Integration
The burqa has been condemned, according to German interior minister Thomas de Maizière, as “contrary to integration”. Yet integration comes from tolerance and understanding. Through building bridges between communities, a harmonious society can thrive. By telling a subset of people what they are not allowed to wear on account of their religion is to tell them they are not welcome.
It is good and fair to see German law as the basis of the constitution and to offer immigrants German lessons so they can become more useful citizens. However, this proposed ban will only drive a wedge between peoples and potentially increase hate crimes towards muslim women who do not adhere to the rules. This is ironic as Merkel has herself once said: “Lived diversity is the logical consequence of freedom”. As a woman who takes so much time listening to people’s concerns, maybe it is time she should listen to herself.