Archives par mot-clé : Penetrating eye

Mounir Chamoun : What Does the Islamic Veil Hide ?

The main function of the Islamic veil is to withdraw women’s bodies from the gazes of men and protect men against the gaze of women, as the eyes of womankind are supposed to be vehicles of lethal penetration and clairvoyance. The author tries to show how the traditional conception of the feminine in Islamic countries leads both girls and women to such a bad image of themselves that they accept the domination of men in the often incestuous family surroundings. Hiding the woman is both a precautionary measure and an attempt at keeping her exclusively for oneself.