The Hijab as aphrodisiac?

Not "a symbol of oppression" but "a representation of culture and choice?"

Naomi Wolf, self-styled infidel-defender-of-the-hijab seems to be influencing other infidel women about the wonders of Islamic wear. The problem, however, is when non-Muslims, as this writer, begin conflating the logic for wearing the hijab with everything else Islamic.

In the Sept. 7 article titled "Cover-up: Of Muslim women and Western fashion," Naomi Wolf states that we as a nation need to understand that the Islamic way of dressing is not intended to suppress sexuality, but to embody "a strongly developed sense of its appropriate channeling--toward marriage and the bonds that sustain family life."

I admit I used to be one of the people who looked away awkwardly when approaching a Muslim woman dressed in veils. Because to this veiled woman, who was I? A promiscuous hellion raising chaos in my arm-baring shirts, that's who.

After all, what could a conservative woman covered, quite literally, from head to toe have in common with me?

We have to start accepting women's veils or chadors, not as a symbol of oppression, but as a representation of culture and choice.

To say wearing more revealing clothing represents freedom is ridiculous, especially when a woman might choose to dress more conservatively to feel comfortable.

Muslim women declare that their chadors liberate them from "intrusive Western stares."

With young women in our nation shamelessly flaunting themselves these days, it leaves little to the imagination--which, as Wolf says, actually reduces libido in men.

So while covering up may symbolize culture or religion for Muslims, maybe a modicum of modesty for us Western gals wouldn't be such a bad idea, either.

Reduces the libidos of men? NOT!! 96% of all women in Egypt say that they have been sexually harrassed. In Egypt women have to wear the headscarves. So that does not convince me that wearing conservative clothing reduces the libidos of men. Not muslim men anyway. Rape is rampent in the muslim community. Of course it is always the woman's fault.