French President Proposes New Ban on Fashion

Currently, French President Nicolas Sarkozy is attempting to propose a law that would ban women from wearing Islamic veils and coverings in public.

In an NPR article, Sarkozy said clothing of this nature is demeaning toward women and unwanted in France. He also claims Muslim clothing “threatens the dignity of women.”

But when wearing this clothing is a part of a culture and a tradition, how can it be threatening, especially if it is by choice and free will? If this legislation is banned, it will be taking away free will for women who chose to wear the Islamic veils.

It is as if Sarkozy is no better than his ultra-conservative counterparts around the world, Like those extreme traditionalists, Sarkozy is attempting to tell women what they can and cannot wear. While he claims he is trying to preserve dignity, he is destroying it. Additionally, he has no evidence if this is demeaning or not because he is not a woman and he has not had the experience of wearing these clothes on a daily basis.

Women should have the right to choose what they wear in public, but even this will not be exercised in the 21st century when people like Sarkozy are making fashion choices for us. Besides, isn’t it a truth universally acknowledged that women have better fashion sense than men?

Also, France is predominately Catholic, so why not restrict what Catholics can wear? Some nuns wear the traditional habit; the only skin showing is the face. They wear coifs or veils that cover hair and part of the face. There has been no mention of nuns uncovering themselves in public, only those who wear the Islamic fashion.

Sarkozy is committing a heinous act of chauvinistic pigism. He is segregating Islamic women in France, wanting them to become more French by not wearing the coverings. Instead of promoting culture and peace, Sarkozy cares about the French national image rather than what the people have to offer.

Coming from a wealthy background and named one of Vanity Fair’s Best-Dressed list, it is apparent image is important to Sarkozy. However, the type of image vital to Sarkozy is coming off as superficial and arrogant.

Instead of censoring what women should wear in France, Sarkozy should focus on the image France is portraying; right now, it’s disrespectful and shallow. Those should not be the front-running qualities of a country as big as France.

With the financial crisis around the world and the never-ending threat of terrorism, Sarkozy should be focusing his effort and attention on matters more pressing than fashion choices.

By dictating what people are and are not allowed to wear is only the beginning of more demands. Though this type of action may not explode into a dictatorship, it’s a small step in that direction.

When Hitler began his expenditure to extinguish those of Jewish descent from Europe, he started small by forcing hem wear yellow stars on their clothing. This act took away free will and identity.

In other words, I think this proposed legislation is a cover-up for public image. Sarkozy doesn’t want France to be associated with ultra-conservative terrorist culture, but the thinking behind this idea is backward and medieval, as well.

Let’s just hope that the rest of the French government doesn’t worry about the latest Gucci clothing line or sparkling white teeth, but will focus on preserving free will and other central issues.