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Removal of veils from Muslim women doctors
I thought I had something profound to say on this subject, but upon reflection, I don't know that I do. I lived in a Muslim country for 5 years and saw every variation of women's headdress from none to baseball cap to Stetson (don't ask) to hijab to burqa. I can't ever remember feeling threatened or offended – indeed the concept just seems too bizarre for me to even contemplate. But recent events have put another perspective on all of this, I guess.
Personally I suspect that the removal is more about removing a religious symbol of any kind. I lived in New Zealand for a while and I was always surprised at the degree to which people were offended by the headscarves and long skirts/blouses that Brethren women had to wear. The very notion of people "flaunting their religion" seems to be an odd one but yet that, in Western societies, people have trouble with. It is almost as if, in our pursuit of secularism (which, btw, I support 100%) we seem to have become as puritanical as those who do not separate region and State.
In the medical context, I personally would be uncomfortable if I could not see my doctor's face. Psychologically, if someone hides their face or won't make eye contact with me, I am suspicious of their intent. But when I look at the variations of Muslim headdress, the only two I would I have any problem with would be niqab and burqa. I suspect that any woman wearing that would probably not be treating me – a male who is a stranger to her – or am I generalizing out of ignorance there? As for the other variations, I would have no problem as a patient of that person. To do that would be to like demanding that my doctor of a few years ago, Dr. Singh, remove his turban – it just doesn't make sense to me.
Returning to my point above doctors about not making eye contact, I do at least try to be consistent. My current doctor has one of those appalling computerized files where he enters data as you tell him your symptoms, history etc. Last time I went, I actually stopped mid-description and asked him to look at me as I was finding it quite disconcerting a) talking about pain and discomfort (I had torn a muscle in my lower back/hip) to the top of his head and b) listening to him mutter under his breath as he made errors on the data entry. He did look up, stop entering the data and the rest of the appointment went much more comfortable for me.
Maybe I don't have anything profound to say but I do try to be consistent!
Personally I suspect that the removal is more about removing a religious symbol of any kind. I lived in New Zealand for a while and I was always surprised at the degree to which people were offended by the headscarves and long skirts/blouses that Brethren women had to wear. The very notion of people "flaunting their religion" seems to be an odd one but yet that, in Western societies, people have trouble with. It is almost as if, in our pursuit of secularism (which, btw, I support 100%) we seem to have become as puritanical as those who do not separate region and State.
In the medical context, I personally would be uncomfortable if I could not see my doctor's face. Psychologically, if someone hides their face or won't make eye contact with me, I am suspicious of their intent. But when I look at the variations of Muslim headdress, the only two I would I have any problem with would be niqab and burqa. I suspect that any woman wearing that would probably not be treating me – a male who is a stranger to her – or am I generalizing out of ignorance there? As for the other variations, I would have no problem as a patient of that person. To do that would be to like demanding that my doctor of a few years ago, Dr. Singh, remove his turban – it just doesn't make sense to me.
Returning to my point above doctors about not making eye contact, I do at least try to be consistent. My current doctor has one of those appalling computerized files where he enters data as you tell him your symptoms, history etc. Last time I went, I actually stopped mid-description and asked him to look at me as I was finding it quite disconcerting a) talking about pain and discomfort (I had torn a muscle in my lower back/hip) to the top of his head and b) listening to him mutter under his breath as he made errors on the data entry. He did look up, stop entering the data and the rest of the appointment went much more comfortable for me.
Maybe I don't have anything profound to say but I do try to be consistent!