Veil, again

So, the teaching assistant in Yorkshire who was suspended for refusing to take off her veil when teaching English to kids with special English needs has been sacked. Quite right, too. Click here for the story if you've not read it.

This comment is resolutely not racist. It’s simply not possible to do the job properly with some kids with one’s mouth covered, as some lipread. She’s no more qualified to do that job than I am qualified to work as a Rabbi. The local authority did well to stand up for commonsense against the tediously inevitable charges of racism. That slightly surprises me, although it pleases me too.

I have to say that I find the Arabic tradition’s assumption that women have to cover themselves with a veil, or men will be driven into a frenzy of unstoppable sexual urge rather offensive to straight men. I don’t think that’s racist but I’m open to feedback that it is. I suppose that if they’re not used to the sight of a woman’s naked (feigns shock…) face then it might be mildly distracting for a moment, but they’d get over it. In much the same way that I got over the slight distraction of seeing lots of completely naked unusually fit men at the gym. You simply quickly stop noticing such things and get about your business. Sorry boys and girls, I defend your right to wear what you want in general, but you really are being silly. Get over it.