Veil v Miniskirt

Two opposing campaigns are arguing about what women in the Arab world should wear.

11:17 01 June 2015

A campaign that started in Algeria this week encourages men in the Arab world to take charge of what the women in their family wear, ensuring that they are adequately covered when in public. The Facebook page Be a man and don’t let your women out in revealing clothes, have attracted thousands of followers, some of whom posted pictures of women in their family wearing conservative clothes along with verses from the Quran. 

 

However, the campaign met criticism from secular activists in Tunisia, a country known for its more progressive views on women’s rights. Tunisian campaigner Rachid ben Othman launched the “international day of the mini skirt” after calling the “be a man” campaign offensive. 

 

Another Tunisian campaigner, who wanted to remain anonymous because of fears for her safety, said that the “be a man” campaign was demeaning. When asked why a miniskirt was chosen as the poster garment for the campaign, she said: "It had to make the same point, they chose the veil as a piece of clothing and we chose the miniskirt."

 

The miniskirt Facebook event page now asks women to go out in mini skirts on 6 June and post selfies in defiance of the “be a man” campaign.