How should Middle Eastern women dress? The way they want

This question, posed by a University of Michigan study, is drawing laughs – and criticism online. Most reactions came after this report on the Huffington Post.

The survey, conducted in seven “Muslim majority countries”, details what people think is an acceptable dress code for women in public in their countries. According to the poll, the majority of people in those countries, “do not think a woman should fully cover her face.” In Saudi Arabia, for example, 63 per cent of those polled said a woman should wear the veil which covers the face, but reveals the eyes – a common dress code for women in the conservative kingdom. Respondents from Lebanon and Turkey preferred women not to cover their faces – or hair.

On the Washington Post blog, Max Fisher notes:

Veiling is such a sensitive issue in much of the Middle East because, in many ways, it's about much more than just clothing. It's about religious vs. secular identity, about the degree to which women are or are not afforded equality and about embracing or rejecting social norms that are seen as distinctly Islamic.

On Twitter, the reactions are more fierce.

Palestinian Lena Jarrar asks:

What kind of sh*t is this? Why should Middle Eastern Women look to ur polls?….“@HuffPostLive: How should Middle Eastern women dress? ..

— Lena (@LRJarrar) January 9, 2014

M Ibrahim adds:

What ever is too normal for Lady Gaga RT @Adverse101: Comfortably. RT @HuffPostLive How should Middle Eastern women dress?

— M. Ibrahim (@Red_MHI) January 9, 2014

Hend, from Libya, takes several jabs at the poll. She tweets:

Without a poll. RT @HuffPostLive How should Middle Eastern women dress?

— Hend (@LibyaLiberty) January 9, 2014

Just like Middle Eastern men – on the outside of their bodies. RT @HuffPostLive How should Middle Eastern women dress?

— Hend (@LibyaLiberty) January 9, 2014

By starting early in childhood. Soon after birth, preferably. RT @HuffPostLive How should Middle Eastern women dress?

— Hend (@LibyaLiberty) January 9, 2014

And Egyptian Mohamed El Dahshan joins the fray, saying:

Underwear first. Unless they're Wonderwoman, in which case underwear is last. RT @HuffPostLive How should Middle Eastern women dress?

— Mohamed El Dahshan (@eldahshan) January 9, 2014

In clothing made of fabric. Or animal skins. preferably no polyester though. RT @HuffPostLive How should Middle Eastern women dress?

— Mohamed El Dahshan (@eldahshan) January 9, 2014

And Siddhartha Chatterje wonders:

Why is it the headache of every group other than middle eastern women? MT @HuffPostLive: How should Middle Eastern women dress?

— Siddhartha Chatterje (@ma_falesu) January 9, 2014