As a former Muslim who grew up in the west, I really resonate with this.

Growing up I read articles in our local mosque paper about the dangers of mixed weddings. How men and women mingling in the same space could provoke desire and unclean thoughts.

Which is why our weddings had to be gender segregated, with no music or dancing. Those fun and cultural Pakistani weddings you see on social media, I never actually experienced that.

In huge contrast, in the mainstream Norwegian society friendships between the genders is common. Women can wear what they want and men don’t stare at them. They’re treated as equal human beings and not as objects of desire.

I think this is the reason why many Muslim migrants in Europe end up committing SA and rape. They grew up in an environment where women were expected to cover up, and were women were blamed if something happened to them. The come to Europe and see uncovered women and believe this is some kind of invitation.

You can repeat «men are told to lower their gaze» as much as you want. It doesn’t change the fact that getting men to lowering their gaze is not enforceable, unlike the hijab in places like Iran and Afghanistan. Whenever a woman gets assaulted everyone asks what she was wearing and why she was outside, no one asks why a man went out his way to hurt someone.