Burka with Bikini

Burka with Bikini

Have you ever seen a woman dressed in burka but carrying a handbag containing pictures of women in bikini?

I had. I saw her at the MRT train yesterday. It tells a story. She was covered from head to toes. And about the only thing you can see is her eyes. The irony is that it draws focus to her eyes only. The cloth that covered her mouth was clipped with a blue jewels. She wore a ring. But the most telling contrast was that she carried a handbag. The handbag has pictures of Western women in bikini.

What is the story in this dress?
That she is dressing in burka according to the demands of her society.
As a member of her society, she had to conform to the dress code of her society.
But as an individual, she expressed her individuality and her personal preference through her handbag, her ring and the jewelry. And these were subtle expression of rebellion against the constraint the society imposed upon her.