Taking religion to work

[eggyoke]

I'm all for freedoms and being able to express yourself however you want. But in a public role the veil isn't ideal. Especially in the medical world and if that person deals with patients.

Human communication isn't about simple words, it's about a whole range of gestures, subtle emotional cues, expressions etc. As humans we've evolved to recognise a persons face, even the tiniest of movements on a persons brow can carry significant weight. Someone's words can take on a whole new meaning simply by the way they visually express it. So if you've got a barrier like the veil, it's entirely possible information could be misunderstood.

Some could argue that they grew up in a family or culture where the girls wear the veil often and they have no problem communicating. That might be true, but in the UK it's different because not everyone is from the same culture. Not everyone has grown up or experienced communicating with people that wear veils.

So can you imagine being a patient and being told some very important information about your life by someone with a veil. There are reasons doctors ask people to come in to see them when parting information. It's about reassurance and human empathy and I simply do not believe that this can fully be provided by someone who is wearing a face veil.

 

[Xordium]

There are reasons doctors ask people to come in to see them when parting information. It's about reassurance and human empathy.

No, it's not. It's to maintain privacy and afford people the time they require. It is not about using nonverbal communication, that has differing meanings across cultures, it's about imparting information and expectations in a non ambiguous and clear manner. Any reassurance comes from investigations and subsequent expected outcomes and empathy doesn't not need non-verbal cues it can be adequately verbalised.

 

[coolsurfer]

I strongly disagree with your point about integration of social culture. To some extent, yes definitely, if you live her then you really need to become part of the community and culture. However, that should NEVER be at the expense of your own culture. In this country we are very tolerant and are made so rich by the cultures that we're made up from.

I believe I'm right in saying that in Islamic countries, those who wear veils are very much in the minority. I may well be wrong on this front though.

Personally, though, people covering their faces make me feel uncomfortable. I don't think they should be allowed to cover their faces and particularly not at work. If you want to do it when you're out and about...well I can deal with it despite it being very disorienting, but if you work somewhere where you communicate with other people then your face definitely should not be completely covered. At least your surgeon and nurses will talk to you with their faces uncovered before surgery.

I think I may have conveyed myself a bit extreme. I meant in terms of participating in Christmas,writing cards, wearing poppies, not having Hindu only or Muslim only schools, or Uni lectures where all of one race sit together in a big cluster etc. Yes I totally agree that it should not be at the expense of ones own culture. I just disagree with legal challenges with wearing veils. I'm not a racist but I disagree with Cherie Blair fighting for that young Muslim girls right to wear a veil at school. At the end of the day there is a reason we all wore uniform at school and one of the reasons is conformity between rich and poor. Why one rule for the "foreign descent" and a different rule for the rest? Isn't it tantamount to an English girl going to an Arab country and wanting to drive or kiss in public? Thy would be jailed! Having girl friends before wedlock is part of British culture after all.

I think the British whites are scared of being accused of racism to the extent where there is quotas now to fill jobs with ethnic minorities like myself.

It just irritates me people screaming religion all the time like that bloke who's kid was given a non halal pasty then offered wine as compensation. You white British are all accommodating and nice so if there is a little ignorance then we can politely educate without all guns blazing going to the press.

 

[Pawnless Endgame]

I spent 12 months in a hospital full of 'ethnic' doctors, not once did I see a doctor or nurse in the face veil. So im not so sure this is as big of a problem as people want to make out.

I don't mind foreigners at all. I work with an Indian and black Caribbean and they're both a great laugh. Have also lodged with a Caribbean years ago, have also frequently clubbed (Sundissential) with an Indian. Have also lived in digs with a Mexican, Canadian, two Chinese, and two Pakistanis. One of the guys was actually called Mohammed and he was a drunk just like the rest of us So I didn't want to turn this into a racist debate. The thread is about religion. Thanks for all of the responses so far, glad it didn't go GD-esque