Peru: 'capped' or women in Lima had their faces covered
Far from the debate in Europe on the Islamic headscarf ban, Peru revive the memory of the 'capped', the women covered with a long skirt and a blanket or shawl to hide her face, first as a symbol of modesty and then to escape the rigid social standards in past centuries. Far
the debate in Europe on the Islamic headscarf ban, Peru revive the memory of the 'capped', the women covered with a long skirt and a blanket or shawl to hide her face, first as a symbol of modesty and then to escape the rigid social standards in past centuries.
The skirt-a-long skirt and mantle kind Veil-shawl sheltered from head to waist inspired painters and writers, travelers, and were considered in the early nineteenth century as a distinctive clothing of the high Peruvian society.
That dress began in Peru in the sixteenth century soon after the English conquest. It was used precisely because the English elite. Probable
Muslim heritage of Moorish Spain, had "a clear aim to cover, to protect the honor of women, to avoid temptation," says Alicia del Aguila, a sociologist the author of 'The veils and hides. "
Gradually the local bourgeoisie and then the middle class appropriated the skirt and mantle, which became a way to escape the vigilance of the men, to conceal his face, but also social status, skin color, age or the marks left by smallpox.
dresses It was giving to those who used "a freedom greater than that of ordinary women," says Del Aguila.
"In the eighteenth century a woman who went out alone on the street was a woman who worked there or a woman of ill repute," says Jesus Cosamalón, a historian at the Catholic University of Lima.
very numerous in Lima in the early nineteenth century, the covered impressed European observers, some fans and other uncomfortable with this statement of claim female.
"There is no one place on earth where women are freer than in Lima, was excited in 1837, the feminist and socialist Flora Tristan Franco-Peruvian. Tristan
that years later would inspire a novel by Mario Vargas Llosa-winner showed his enthusiasm to see women covered, it is true, but free to roam, wander ... and play the seduction.
The husband could not recognize his wife, flirting with a stranger, transgressed ... The Church and the English Crown tried several times to ban covered. There were fines for wearing well but was not only useless but actually stimulated ban over this usage. Several
adorned the romantic tales of mystery and seduction. the veiled at best only showed an eye, a shoe heel or sometimes a little arm, "playing the eternal game of hide and reveal," says Del Aguila.
the end it was the fashion that wrecked the hidden. The economic boom of guano (bird droppings used as fertilizer) in the second half of the nineteenth century led to Peru to new European elites who brought the Paris fashion.
addition to the century was accompanied by a change in social codes of a desire to control, view, add Casamalón, who draws a parallel with widespread at the time of lighting.
"What was perceived as dangerous dark, what was hidden and harmful," he says.
For Del Aguila covered the history of shows that "the scope, the life of a fashion has to do with the use people make long-term."
The future of the Islamic veil, within this idea will depend on "more than they do for future generations, possibly more secular-that of an obsession with legislating" on the subject, believes.
In an astounding similarity to the current debate on the veil, "the views and positions for or against clogged came mostly from outside authorities or observers, "notes Casamalón." The only voice that is heard is to users.
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