Thread: new market dropped into my lap.VEILED WOMEN

yes, in fresno ca. there are many veiled women.we do many of their partys, but now they want classes where they feel safe. one group tried a gym, but could not get away from men. curves is out of the question due to the christian aspect of it . so, if there is an islamic center in your town, think about it!..they translate too !

Curves is Christian??? Who knew?! Why, for Gods sake, is there a need to put a religious slant on exercise? That is just weird!

there are scriptures on the walls, and if you listen to the music you get it....i have heard many a story about this chain.

btw, so is "forever 21" and "in and out burger"..in and out has scriptures on the paper cups.....

Originally Posted by zamora

btw, so is "forever 21" and "in and out burger"..in and out has scriptures on the paper cups.....

LOL.
Geez. That's just funny. Sure Forever 21 has trendy things, but they also carry more than their fair share of rather revealing and flimsy clothing. And "In and Out" burger just sounds sexual.
I've had veiled women in class before. Some dance studios have primarily women clients. This environment might work as well.

We have Curves, here where I live and my good friend works for them as a trainer. There are no scriptures on the wall and they music they use to excercise is 80 pop music. So I am not sure if this varies from place to place.

Actaully, Curves is a Christian company and many of it's locales play Christian music. But bigger than that, they generally don't offer Belly Dance more are they supposed to rent out their space to non approved / sponsored activities.

{{{HUGS}}}

lol, tahiradancer....thanks, this is SO fresno.

Originally Posted by tahiradancer

Actaully, Curves is a Christian company and many of it's locales play Christian music. But bigger than that, they generally don't offer Belly Dance more are they supposed to rent out their space to non approved / sponsored activities.

{{{HUGS}}}

A little research on the company and the founder/owner is Born Again Christian and heavily pro-life/anti-choice. He donates a lot to anti-choice organizations, including some of the more radical groups like "Operation Save America" whose site is (by my standards) "pro-hatred", and bigotry inciting.

.....pro hate...yep, so central valley deep sigh.

funny thing about forever 21....i and other older short women find ourselves in that place because it has the sizes we need....style, not so much.but it is getting harder to find smaller sizes.

Originally Posted by tahiradancer

Actaully, Curves is a Christian company and many of it's locales play Christian music. But bigger than that, they generally don't offer Belly Dance more are they supposed to rent out their space to non approved / sponsored activities.

{{{HUGS}}}

again, it's a local thing- the owner of the Curves here has approached me several times about offering bellydance classes at her place- every time I mention my price she disappears again, but she's at least interested...

what forever 21 have you walked into?? ..c::

never in my life had i heard that before. thats really funny actually

in a mall in fresno, fashion faire, just about to expand to one of the first mulit floored F 21s.
lara l, that is so cool .you are lucky !

Oh, and to go back to the original topic slightly, many ethnic groups love belly dance but the women are, as stated, concerned about being seen uncovered by unrelated men. I know that for a long time there was a very successful belly dance teacher in the Pico / Robertson area here in LA which has one of the highest Conservative Jewish populations in North America. Many from the ME. The thing which killed the classes for the new owner was taking down the blinds! The women wouldn't come.

{{{HUGS}}}

We had several hijabi women in my class last year, most of whom had married into Arab families, and wanted to get in touch with their inlaws' culture.

We actually organised a women-only hafla for the end of the term, so they could get a chance to perform.

The thing which killed the classes for the new owner was taking down the blinds!

That would kill mine! I have no windows, and would offer a male only or a mixed class if there was any interest, but there isnt. My ladies come to this place knowing they will be in all female company. Not very modern of them...but I would go broke if I depended on modern people in my community! Come to think of it...I am already broke!

re Christian companies:

Curves is a franchise, and the national company is owned/run by a Christian pro-life man who reportedly donates to radical pro-life causes. The individual locations are usually owned by franchisees, who might be of any religious or political stripe, but money flows back to the national company every month for every Curves client at the local level.
snopes.com: Curves and Pro-Life Causes


Forever 21 is a chain owned by Christians. They have a bible verse on their bags. I don't know why anyone cares.
The Secretive Culty Christians Behind Forever 21


Dr Bronner's Soap was apparently owned by a crazy man. All-One! It's nice soap.
[ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emanuel_Bronner]Emanuel Bronner - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]

Sigh...probably going to get flamed for this...

If I said, "OH NOES! I can't shop at X store because it's owned by EVUL MUSLIMS!" people would run me out of this forum with torches and pitchforks.

When you fill up your tank with gas at the 7/11, your purchase is funding the cashier's paycheck. If that cashier uses that paycheck to purchase a gun and harm someone, do you feel responsible? That's a heavy load of guilt to bear, people.

There is no way to know how most people spend the money we hand them in our routine transactions. I don't personally understand the obsession over it. I understand not wanting to *directly* give money to a cause you don't agree with, but you would have to stop making purchases and move to a commune where you sleep on the ground, milk your own goats, spin your own wool and pick berries in the wild to avoid your money ever getting into the hands of some group you disagree with.

Would you refuse to buy a costume from me on the swap meet if you knew I was a Christian and might *gasp* give some of that money to a church? What if I were Muslim? Or Jewish? Or atheist?

Back to the actual topic at hand, I love the idea of offering dance classes in an environment where veiled women can feel comfortable. It's a fabulous idea.

Private no-men studio space, cups of tea, music, dancing = a great social get-together for Muslim women who veil. It's a great idea.

Originally Posted by GenevieveOfAtlanta

Sigh...probably going to get flamed for this...
If I said, "OH NOES! I can't shop at X store because it's owned by EVUL MUSLIMS!" people would run me out of this forum with torches and pitchforks. ...
Would you refuse to buy a costume from me on the swap meet if you knew I was a Christian and might *gasp* give some of that money to a church? What if I were Muslim? Or Jewish? Or atheist?

No flame, but clarification for understanding.
I've got no issues with any of the major world religions (or atheists).
When I have the choice (and when the knowledge is readily available) I choose not to give my money to companies that donate heavily to "belief centered radical causes" that I find reprehensible... usually they are things that go against what I understand the premise of that particular religion to be or against what I feel is kind or ethical.
Many religions have charity as part of their practice. I have gladly participated in both church, synagogue and mosque centered food drives. It's not about any religion of the involvement thereof. It's the radical, wingnut causes that discriminate and spread hate that I try to avoid giving money to. I can't always do that. I realize this and don't sweat it. Sometimes the information is easily attainable.
I choose Costco over BJs, for example. I choose Target over Walmart. It's just a matter of doing 10 minutes of research (or more if I choose) and driving to a different shopping center.
I wanted to address the misunderstanding and hope Genevieve, my take on it at least is more clear. I apologize for veering so off topic.

I don't mind christian or church, I give to catholic charities myself, but yea, If I knew I would also not shop at a place that sponsors radical anti choice socalled pro life activism, I think these people are dangerous

back on topic, I have had requests of teaching groups of veiled women, the issue is finding a space where we can be 100% sure no man shall walk in or look in, not an option at most commercial rentable sports centres

Originally Posted by SamiraShuruk

No flame, but clarification for understanding.
I've got no issues with any of the major world religions (or atheists).
When I have the choice (and when the knowledge is readily available) I choose not to give my money to companies that donate heavily to "belief centered radical causes" that I find reprehensible... usually they are things that go against what I understand the premise of that particular religion to be or against what I feel is kind or ethical.
Many religions have charity as part of their practice. I have gladly participated in both church, synagogue and mosque centered food drives. It's not about any religion of the involvement thereof. It's the radical, wingnut causes that discriminate and spread hate that I try to avoid giving money to. I can't always do that. I realize this and don't sweat it. Sometimes the information is easily attainable.
I choose Costco over BJs, for example. I choose Target over Walmart. It's just a matter of doing 10 minutes of research (or more if I choose) and driving to a different shopping center.
I wanted to address the misunderstanding and hope Genevieve, my take on it at least is more clear. I apologize for veering so off topic.

Thanks, Samira. I appreciate you taking the time to explain your stance, and I respect what you're saying.

I've read this is a trend in some areas for community center swimming pools as well - to offer a couple hours of pool time for woman only.

ok, 2 things...thank you for PICO ROBERTSON..im home sick.
2....trading at business such as forever 21....."why does it matter"? because i have a list, anyone can get it online...I DO NOT SPEND MY MONEY PLACES ON THIS LIST they donated to yes on prop 8.enough said. my investments, anything i do with my hard earned $$ never goes to those who would tamper with my life. so, on a local level, many lost $$$ after the list went online.you can print it for the state, or for a town you are shopping in.

Originally Posted by zamora

ok, 2 things...thank you for PICO ROBERTSON..im home sick.
2....trading at business such as forever 21....."why does it matter"? because i have a list, anyone can get it online...I DO NOT SPEND MY MONEY PLACES ON THIS LIST they donated to yes on prop 8.enough said. my investments, anything i do with my hard earned $$ never goes to those who would tamper with my life. so, on a local level, many lost $$$ after the list went online.you can print it for the state, or for a town you are shopping in.

Cory, Do you have a link to share?

Originally Posted by GenevieveOfAtlanta

Sigh...probably going to get flamed for this...

If I said, "OH NOES! I can't shop at X store because it's owned by EVUL MUSLIMS!" people would run me out of this forum with torches and pitchforks.

When you fill up your tank with gas at the 7/11, your purchase is funding the cashier's paycheck. If that cashier uses that paycheck to purchase a gun and harm someone, do you feel responsible? That's a heavy load of guilt to bear, people.

There is no way to know how most people spend the money we hand them in our routine transactions. I don't personally understand the obsession over it. I understand not wanting to *directly* give money to a cause you don't agree with, but you would have to stop making purchases and move to a commune where you sleep on the ground, milk your own goats, spin your own wool and pick berries in the wild to avoid your money ever getting into the hands of some group you disagree with.

Would you refuse to buy a costume from me on the swap meet if you knew I was a Christian and might *gasp* give some of that money to a church? What if I were Muslim? Or Jewish? Or atheist?

Thank you for saying this. I think this happens quite frequently on Bhuz and it's tiresome. I usually refrain from saying anything because it would be the same stuff, over and over again. No discrimination is acceptable. All are morally reprehensible. It's not okay with me when it seems like we pick and choose which groups it's okay to be against.

Originally Posted by CFerhat

I've read this is a trend in some areas for community center swimming pools as well - to offer a couple hours of pool time for woman only.

My cousin is a hijabi and we have a local pool that does just this. They open a couple hours earlier in the morning for a woman-only environment. She loves that and goes quite frequently.

prop 8 list...googel it, you can print it too ! really opened my eyes. lol, and it listed my inlaws church and how much it gave.....yes, it lists business, and private citizens and the amount they gave to prop hate. i told me why i was treated badly at eye doctor and i found a better one.why would the eye doctor know ? because my wife and i made local news and got a pic in local paper when we married june 17th 2 years ago.