Why did Hillary not wear a scarf, we wondered, at Karzai’s inauguration? When you move around in such high circles everything you do is symbolic. My gut feeling was that not conforming to this ubiquitous local tradition was a signal of one upwomanship: you are adapting to us, not us to you…maybe? And what about the Kashmiri embroidered coat – Kashmir is a flammable thing in these parts of the world. Was there a subtle purpose, like attracting attention to the beauty of the place to remind everyone that we should not destroy it?
I would have loved to be a fly on the wall when the scarf issue was raised (I can’t imagine it was not). In Pakistan she wore a scarf and when she visited the Pope some time ago she wore something on her head (but that was as a spouse I believe). What were the pros and cons raised about the scarf wearing? I am always curious about such matters because I cannot imagine that not wearing a scarf was because she was in a hurry and simply forgot.
When Axel and I were at the opening of the 4th International Film Festival in Kabul in July, the female reps from the Goethe Institute did not wear scarves. I was jealous of them as I sat wrapped up in a vent-less and hot auditorium on that day. The scarf-less lady was important because she sat on the front row and was invited to address us. Next to her, also on the front row was another woman, a little younger, who wore a tank top and a short skirt (and no scarf). Remembering how naked I felt all wrapped up in my mid-calf dress, cardigan and headscarf, I wondered whether she felt the glances from people but endured them because of the statement she was making or whether she was simply oblivious.
A young woman who takes pictures for our donor at special events here in Kabul also never wears a scarf. I don’t know her enough to ask her about her reasoning. I did ask my Dutch friend Janneke who is rather casual with her head cover. For her it’s a principled issue. But most of us foreign women do comply with the local culture and cover our head, rain, sun, shine or snow.
Sylvia's Journal 
interesting – hadn’t heard about this until reading your blog…
In Islam there is no difference between men and women in regards to their relationship to Allah; they are both promised the same reward for good, or punishment for evil conduct.However, it is on account of the differences between men and women in nature, temperament and social life, that a greater amount of veiling is required for women than men, (especially) in the matter of dress.Anyways….
Allah curses those women who wear clothes and yet still remain naked!We should not degrade any one such like “why did Hillary not wear a scarf” if she’s good or bad on her relighious concepts.The scarf is not just for outside infactly, the scarf is for inside really.
The question seems to be, do we want to prove a point in an attempt to unilaterally start changing a society? or Do we take the route of visibly being respectful of a culture/tradition much bigger than us. One in which we want to work and effect change? I think locals notice when westerners acceed to their traditions/social norms.
I clearly remember 1977 in Cairo when I walked the streets with my girlfriend and lightly held hands. A voice from the crowd whispered in my ear “It is forbidden” and then vanished in the crowd. We stopped doing this. It seems that they interpret this as either showing off, or flaunting a loose woman. After all, if I can hold her hand, anyone else can too. All they need to go is to get me to leave.
I don’t see the sense in starting off to offend the clear majority of people in the arab world if one wants to work with them and get more important things done.
Your point is well taken, hence my question, why was she not wearing a scarf at that day while a few weeks earlier in Pakistan she was? Simply forgot (I sometimes do that as I race off to a meeting at the ministry and halfway realize I forgot my scarf)? A symbolic act? Unliateral ‘action’?