deduction:

although i see your rationale for asking this one, it doesn't quite seem to work. i say this because your argument seems very similar to some "feminists" arguments about what it means to be a liberated woman in american society. we have the choice to have children or not, to work or be stay at home moms. just because someone makes a choice about these things, is it a direct reflection on another person's situation in a different culture where women are not afforded these rights?

no. it's not the same argument, but you can see the similarities, no? i don't think we have this responsibility for all the ills of the world that you seem to see. I don't think there is some onus on the female Muslims in this country to deveil simply as a form of protest to more repressive outlooks in other countries. If they choose to, fine. But honoring culture and tradition- even if it is born out of a sexist past- does not necessarily constitute the perpetuation of said sexism. IMO, at least. I I also fail to see how even if every american Muslim women decided not to wear the hajib, how that would liberate women elsewhere...

I certainly do see those similarities, and (to sound like a politician here) I'm glad you brought that up. The feminist dilemma of whether to be a stay-at-home-mom or pursue a career is a GREAT example of what I'm talking about. Why? Because that very debate is alive, ongoing, and public within the femenist community. I've probably read 10 articles on that very issue (and I'm a dude) in the past two years.

I would never say that women need to go out and work for the sake of their housebound sisters; all I would ask in this situation is that women who choose to stay home (as a group) acknowledge that their situation did not used to be a choice. And in my opinion, they are, and they have risen to the occaison by making this a central dialogue among american women today.

I see nothing comparable among american muslims, though I will admit I might just be missing it.

But Look at Usama's post; this is about unwilling to express even the most minimal awareness of the issue.