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|related=Vorinism
|world=Roshar
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]
}}
'''Safehand''' is a [[Roshar]]an term for a woman's left hand. According to cultural tradition in the [[Vorin]] kingdoms, it is improper for a woman to leave her safehand uncovered.{{wob ref|12977}} A woman's right hand is often referred to as their '''freehand'''.{{book ref|sa1|3}}
==Background and Observance==
{{image|Vorin Havah.jpg|side=left|width=250px|Examples of havahs from a fashion folio, showing different types of safehand sleeves}}
The tradition of covering one's safehand is primarily practiced by women in the Vorin nations of [[Alethkar]], [[Jah Keved]], [[Kharbranth]], [[New Natanan]], and [[Thaylenah]]. Girls begin covering their left hand at around twelve years of age, and it is seen as a rite of passage.{{book ref|sa2|19}} It is kept hidden from view whenever possible, even when wearing a robe in front of bathing attendants before actually entering the bath.{{book ref|sa1|48}} Only family members are touched with a covered safehand,{{book ref|sa1|22}} as it is considered to be a fairly intimate gesture.{{book ref|sa3|18}}{{book ref|sa4|43}} Intentionally showing your safehand is considered an exceptionally private act, usually reserved only for a woman's significant other.{{book ref|sa3|36}}
Covering the left hand is not thought of as a major inconvenience among Alethi and Veden nobility, since [[lighteyes|lighteyed]] women are able to pursue one-handed hobbies such as painting and writing.{{wob ref|4447}} Among the upper class, the most common method of covering the safehand is by wearing a [[havah]], a traditional dress that includes an oversized sleeve that loosely covers the left hand.{{book ref|sa1|3}} The fabric used to make havahs is thin enough that the safehand can still be used to grip things.{{book ref|sa4|69}} The sleeve often has a compartment or button where a "safepouch" that holds personal objects can be placed. The pouch may hold objects as large as a notebook, and can usually be transferred between different garments.{{book ref|sa4|8}}{{book ref|sa1|48}} It is considered extremely rude to open another woman's safepouch.{{book ref|sa1|39}} The sleeve typically has a button that can be opened if a woman is in a situation where she can reveal her safehand.{{book ref|sa4|19}} Havahs are particularly popular in Alethkar and Jah Keved, and new styles are often introduced in Roshar's fashion capitals of [[Liafor]] and [[Yezier]].{{file ref|Vorin Havah.jpg|Vorin Havah Folio Page}}{{book ref|sa3|49}} People from non-Vorin nations who associate with Alethi nobility (such as [[Evi]] and [[Palona]]) are expected to cover their safehands, although they may be relatively careless about keeping it totally hidden.{{book ref|sa3|36}}{{book ref|sa3|21}}
[[darkeyes|Darkeyed]] women often choose to wear a glove instead of a sleeve; they are not concerned about putting on airs and are more likely to need both hands to perform their jobs or household duties.{{book ref|sa1|3}}{{book ref|sa1|6}} [[Thaylen]] women, who are less devout than the Alethi and come from a society of sailors, also typically wear gloves.{{book ref|sa1|8}}{{book ref|sa1|i|4}} Gloves are considered less modest than sleeves.{{book ref|sa1|3}}
Prostitutes may wear fingerless gloves or leave their safehands completely uncovered in order to be provocative and show others who they are before being hired out.{{book ref|sa2|45}}{{book ref|sa1|46}}
==History==
Although ''Arts and Majesty'' was written prior to the [[Recreance]], it came to prominence after that event when it was adopted as a misogynistic justification for men to bear [[Shardblade]]s and [[Shardplate]] instead of women. This had far-reaching effects in Vorin society, including women appropriating the duties of reading and writing as a form of retaliation.{{wob ref|6245}} This change occurred relatively rapidly, over the course of a few decades,{{wob ref|900}} and persisted for several millenia.{{wob ref|9655}}
[[Singer]]s that served Vorin masters in [[slaveform]] prior to the [[Everstorm]] sometimes retained the tradition of covering their safehands after they were freed.{{book ref|sa4|1}}
During the [[True Desolation]], the importance of safehands seemed to decline among some high-ranking Vorin women. [[Jasnah Kholin]] followed the tradition because it was seen as proper, although she did not actually care about it herself.{{book ref|sa4|17}} [[Navani]] began wearing a glove more often and felt that wearing a sleeve was burdensome.{{book ref|sa4|19}}
== Trivia ==
* According to [[Ben McSweeney]], it was not originally intended for safehands to become a sexual and nudity taboo. After the release of ''[[The Way of Kings]]'', however, fans made the connection themselves and Brandon worked it into the world as a result.{{wob ref|14095}}
▲In an interview, [[Brandon Sanderson]] stated that the tradition derives in part from "a famous book written by an artist who claimed that true feminine pursuits and arts were those that could be performed with one hand, while masculine arts were those performed with two hands, in a way associating delicacy with women and brute force with men." {{wob ref|4447}}
== Notes ==
<references />
{{complete|[[User:Big Smooth|Big Smooth]] ([[User talk:Big Smooth|talk]]) 20:28, 26 June 2022 (UTC)}}
{{Stormlight}}
[[Category: Vorinism]]
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