that headscarf article is amusing and disgusting at the same time. not to diminish it, but it seems like pregnant women experience the same sort of rudeness - people touching their stomachs, asking questions about their sex lives, etc. Things that you wouldn't EVER otherwise walk up to a stranger and ask/do.

I totally agree! I mean, I get the point of the article. I even got a little "tongue in cheek" feeling from the writer. That being said, I was also rather insulted and disgusted as well. No matter what I may think about the hijab, niqab, chador, etc., there is still a woman under there. I realize that there are many a rude jerk in the world. The rest of us actually posses manners and at least an ounce of civility, if not more.
I think it comes down to people being oblivious to basic social customs. And, the thing about pregnant women...so true!

wow, this is incredibly lame. I hope people are not that stupid.

And the woman in the picture isn't in a "headscarf."

Ok, wtf? this is soooooooooo offensive!

"
Simple Sentences.

Speak loudly (that cloth must muffle her hearing after all) and make sure to enunciate your words as clearly as possible. Move your face close to hers if necessary. The poor thing likely doesn’t know very much English, and it is your duty to make sure she is at ease in what is surely a foreign country for her. Most importantly, do not simply smile, say hello and treat her with the same dignity as anyone else you encounter. You want to impress upon her your difference, not your similarity."

Tres, can you please explain to us why you would link this article and say it is a guide to speaking to women in headscarves?

Hey you, last anonymous comment. If you scrolled down you would see that it is a humor piece.

"Shagufta Pasta says:
2009-06-23 12:13 am
Thanks for all the responses dear readers! A couple of notes:
I’m always sad when I have to say this about my comedy, but this is um, a humour piece. So I’m not going to get into a ‘how dare muslims make jokes, don’t they realise how lucky they are to be tolerated in the first world’ type conversation-that specific conversation isn’t fruitful, and in general debating broad categorical statements doesn’t tend to work well over the comments section.

b) Yes, the ‘aren’t you hot in that thing” question is a particular favourite of mine.

c) if a comment isn’t respectful, i delete it. Friendliness, smiles, productive comments are always welcomed."

As a humor piece, it's still pretty lame.