Artist Points Out Hypocrisy Of “Burkini” Ban In France With One Illustration
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One illustration destroys the argument that the burkini ban isn't about Islamophobia.
Credit: Amy Clancy
France recently banned “burkinis,”
which can be seen on women who are wearing headscarves and bodysuits
and are primarily spotted on Muslim women. France has been a large
perpetrator of Islamophobia,
likely because of repeated attacks in their country, that have caused
them to first ban scarves that cover women’s faces and now ban burkinis.
Now, when French police in certain cities
encounter a woman wearing a burkini, they are allowed to force them to
remove extra covering and give them a ticket with a hefty fine.
Credit: @cerqueic
What’s terrible about this situation is
that photos have revealed how this is shockingly similar to the way
women’s bodies were policed decades ago. Photos placed side-by-side have
been taken at the beach in different centuries to show how things have
not changed. Back then, women were not allowed to show too much skin,
and now they are essentially not allowed to cover up too much.
People in a range of different countries
have expressed outrage over these new laws, as Muslim women are
persecuted for their religious beliefs. One such concerned citizen is an
illustrator named Amy Clancy, who drew about the hypocrisy of the
burkini ban.
Although France claims that the law is to
promote “good morals and secularism” and that it extends to people of
all races, religions, and sexes, it’s clear that they are targeting this
group of people.
Credit: Amy Clancy
That’s why Clancy’s illustration points
out how France’s law doesn’t make sense and certainly doesn’t extend to
everyone. On the left, there is a woman in a bikini with a swimming cap
on. In the middle, the woman is wearing a wetsuit, which are often
sported by surfers and others engaging in water sports. Both of these
photos depict women who are within the realm of the law. However, on the
right is a woman who is wearing a wetsuit and a bathing cap and can
rightfully be given a ticket for her apparel. Clancy said of the cartoon,
“I like to represent ideas visually, and this clear example of double standards lent itself well to a very simple illustration. It was a small act of protest before I left for work. I only wish I had included a nun as well.”
It’s ridiculous because it’s the two
legal items of clothing put together in one outfit that makes the
ensemble illegal, and it’s likely that only Muslim women will ever be
fined for wearing this outfit at the beach.
Polls have shown that the majority of French citizens are in favor of these new laws because of the widespread fear and hate. These
are the kind of laws that America could see being adopted if Trump were
to become president, as he is running on a platform filled with this
same fear and hate.
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