Sixty percent of Australian women firmly support the right of women in Australia to wear the burqa, according to a snap poll conducted by The Heat Group.
The poll shows that although 70% believe that the wearing the burqa may pose security risks, Australian women are putting their personal fears aside and saying ‘yes’ to wearing the burqa in public.
Susan Carland, a prominent and influential Muslim community representative, says it’s a positive sign.
“It is quite significant that nearly 70% of respondents felt burqas were a security threat, and yet 60% still believe it was a woman’s right to wear a burqa in public,” she says.
“Whilst this demonstrates an interesting tension for the modern Australian woman between individual (freedom) rights and collective (safety) rights, it also is a welcome sign of increasing acceptance and tolerance within mainstream Australian society, especially when we consider that 60% of respondents also admitted they found the burqa confronting.”
It seems Australian women support other women in their personal choices – disregarding religion, race, and personal opinions, and respecting each individual woman’s decision and right to represent themselves any way that they choose.
Full facial veils have been criticized for their oppressive nature imposed by males in Muslim culture however many Muslim women oppose this, saying that wearing the burqa is a choice and a sign of devotion and empowerment.
The Managing Director of The Heat Group, Gillian Franklin, sees the personal conflict that Australian women faced when answering the poll on the religious expression of the burqa.
“On one hand, Aussie women are prepared to stand up to the “clothing police” and agree people should be able to wear whatever they want in public, particularly when it comes to cultural and religious choices. On the other hand, they are worried about the lack of transparency and the safety risks of identity-concealing clothing.”
Franklin believes the discomfort some Australian women feel about the burqa is ultimately misguided. “People are making the link between a burqa and the security threat unnecessarily. How many women have worn a burqa and committed a terrorist act?” Franklin asks.”Just this morning I was listening to a discussion on the radio about the reaction following Martin Bryant’s shooting in Tasmania. After that people didn’t feel terrorised in their homes. We are uncomfortable with things we’re unfamiliar with.”
Education is paramount in this regard and even without it Franklin says there is an overwhelming level of support for women from women.
“Women are saying they support a person’s human rights and their choices more strongly than their own personal views.”
The poll came after a number of Australian politicians called for the banning of the burqa in an attempt to respond to fears of public safety amid the rise in extremism of the Islamic State.
Last week the government announced the decision to drop the controversial proposed burqa ban in Parliament House. Franklin said this decision is “in line with what women across Australia are thinking and feeling.”