Muslim woman sues Disney over headscarf dispute

[Tony]

8/14/2012: The ACLU is suing The Walt Disney Co. on behalf of a Muslim woman who claims the company discriminated against her by not allowing her to wear a headscarf while working in a Disney restaurant in Anaheim.

Eugene Volokh, a law school professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, said Boudlal could have “a pretty solid claim under a pretty long line of case (law) under all sorts of religions which have gotten exemptions from uniform policies for their religious headwear. This is not some special right of Muslims.”

I dunno about that. I'm trying to think of another religion that demands head coverings like this. And what is the relevant text in her holy book anyway? If it only requires her head to be "covered", then why not a pirate hat?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/muslim-woman-files-suit-against-disney-over-headscarf-dispute/2012/08/14/cf13432e-e655-11e1-9739-eef99c5fb285_story.html

[derricksonb]

Tony- This isn't exactly a new story, but I suppose Ms Boudlal finally filed her lawsuit against Disney.

On one hand I kind of empathize with her for wanting to express her freedom of religion, but on the other hand I can see Disney's POV in that her hijab did not fit in with the turn of the century (1900's) theme of the particular restaurant and the provided costume. What I find most interesting about the story is that she was an employee for two years before she approached managment at Disney about wanting to wear her hijab to work. Before this she was perfectly fine with complying with corporate policies regarding appearance in the workplace and being in costume. Disney made several attempts and gave different proposals to alter the look of her costume while remaining in te theme of the restaurant and went so far as to offering her several other "behind the scenes positions" where she would be permitted to wear her hijab which she refused and eventually stopped showing up for work.

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012...b-at-work?lite

"Walt Disney Parks and Resorts has a history of accommodating religious requests from cast members of all faiths. We presented Ms. Boudlal with multiple options to accommodate her religious beliefs, as well as offered her several roles that would have allowed her to wear her own hijab. Unfortunately, she rejected all of our efforts and has since refused to come to work."

[twodogs]

If she is allowed to wear a sheet on her head then I want to wear a crown of thorns and carry a a large wooden cross at work.

[LFE]

Working from home has so many advantages :-)

[Kensey]

If the restaurant requires a period or other theme costume, I would think that would fall under the category of something inherent to the job -- if you can't wear the prescribed uniform, you simply can't do the job. There was a case of a Sikh man who lost his discrimination lawsuit against Chevron, because his job required him to use a respirator and he could not put it on properly without shaving his religiously-required beard.

[cindylu]

Are Jewish males also not allowed to wear their Yarmulkes?? Its a head covering that wouldn't fall under some Disney themes.

[grafxgirl]

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[Tony]

Apparently the Quran only has a couple passages about it, and they refer only to Muhammad's wives and covering their bosoms. So like a lot of dress it's only a custom, not a religious requirement. I don't see how this case has any legs at all.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hijab

[derricksonb]

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So if our intent is to one day become cast members (DVC Rep and an Imagineer) after retirement then I guess you won't be getting that Tinkerbell tattoo....