If you live in a culture where a niqāb or burqa is rare, then being confronted with somebody wearing one is bound to unsettle you somewhat. Much of the visual cues with which we communicate are non-verbal, but also our eyes only tell half of any expression. It makes it that much more difficult to discern how the person is feeling. On top of that it is instantly a barrier for many people; they are essentially withholding much of their identity, which to many people is a display of distrust. It can be a difficult obstacle to overcome.
If you are somebody with mild Autism or AS that struggles with eye contact, I can see how a niqāb or burqa could be a nightmare. Don't feel bad about this, it's not based on prejudice or hatred.
I live in south-west London (which is very ethnically and culturally diverse).
Thank you for this comment, and to everyone else. It's good to know that it's OK to feel like this and I know that it'll get marginally easier to deal with the situation next time.
I've spoken to other Islamic people before, but they've only been in hijab at the most (I think that's the name for the scarves that cover up the hair and ears but not the rest of the face).
IIN to feel this way when talkign to someone wearing a niqab/burqa?
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It's perfectly normal.
If you live in a culture where a niqāb or burqa is rare, then being confronted with somebody wearing one is bound to unsettle you somewhat. Much of the visual cues with which we communicate are non-verbal, but also our eyes only tell half of any expression. It makes it that much more difficult to discern how the person is feeling. On top of that it is instantly a barrier for many people; they are essentially withholding much of their identity, which to many people is a display of distrust. It can be a difficult obstacle to overcome.
If you are somebody with mild Autism or AS that struggles with eye contact, I can see how a niqāb or burqa could be a nightmare. Don't feel bad about this, it's not based on prejudice or hatred.
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10 years ago
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I live in south-west London (which is very ethnically and culturally diverse).
Thank you for this comment, and to everyone else. It's good to know that it's OK to feel like this and I know that it'll get marginally easier to deal with the situation next time.
I've spoken to other Islamic people before, but they've only been in hijab at the most (I think that's the name for the scarves that cover up the hair and ears but not the rest of the face).