I have a question about the Burka (not sure about the spelling-sorry). For many of us, who are not used to wearing or seeing the Burka on a daily basis, seeing the way Afghani women covered themselves during the Taliban regime was difficult. We have also heard that in many parts of Afghanistan, women continue to wear the full Burka. For many of us who are not used to wearing the Burka, we feel as if it is a women's right issue not to wear one, and yet we also know that there are women who prefer to wear it. 
I was curious how/if this gets carried out in the classroom? Are the communities pretty homogeneous in their wearing of the Burka, so if you visit a female classroom, you will either see most/all wearing it, or not, depending on the community? Do the teachers by and large reflect the community too? If not, is there discussion in the classroom, discomfort, disagreement, etc. between those who do wear it and those who don't?
Please excuse me for my lack of knowledge. When I am talking about the Burka, I am hopefully using the right term for the complete covering from head to toe, with the exception of netting for the eyes. Even my description is vague, because I am going by my memory of pictures that I have seen.
Perhaps this is more of an issue for women like me in the US, who are not used to covering up , and it is not such an issue for women in your classes?
I wonder if women in your classes talk about the images of US/European women who do not cover up, and in fact often dress very scantily. Perhaps this is an issue for discussion with them, just like the Burka is with some of us in the States?
Thanks,
Daphne


Daphne Greenberg
Assistant Professor
Educational Psych. & Special Ed.
Georgia State University
P.O. Box 3979
Atlanta, Georgia 30302-3979
phone: 404-651-0127
fax:404-651-4901
dgreenberg at gsu.edu

Daphne Greenberg
Associate Director
Center for the Study of Adult Literacy
Georgia State University
P.O. Box 3977
Atlanta, Georgia 30302-3977
phone: 404-651-0127
fax:404-651-4901
dgreenberg at gsu.edu