This ad drafted by Amnesty International is a symbol to stop the oppression of women in the Islamic world. This ad is relevant because of the common belief that wearing a burqa is a sign of oppression and silence under the pressures of society and religion. Therefore the added picture of bars, as though the woman were trapped in jail, is also relevant to the topic.
While it may be true that some women feel this way when wearing a burqa, is it also possible that this is just a prejudiced view that stems from the West? Could it be possible that most women who wear a burqa siply do it because they want to express modesty? This ad does call us to make meaning, but which meaning? For messages we see in advertisements only show us the message the conveyor wants us to see. I believe it is our job to always question what is put before us, no matter how shocking it may be. Simply because an ad is shocking, does not necessarily make it true.
Prejudice about topics we are not familiar with, especially in the Islamic world, can be a very touchy subject. It is our job to use precaution when analyzing and making meaning.
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