American Hijab

As Hijab is a covering that portrays ones level of sophistication, When a Muslim woman wears Hijab it is a sign of poise and vanity and a way to earn respect from others. Moreover a woman who wears the Hijab is bearing the flag of Islam. Yet people do not apprehend the fact that Hijab protects a woman from unsolicited attention and it also prevents from making them sexual displays. Frequently Hijab is alleged as a demonstration of men’s power over women, why? Could it be because they do not follow the latest trends or fashions? A Muslim woman should be looked upon equally as opposed to a woman who is not wearing the Hijab. I believe that they should be respected equally in the society just as any other religions customs wearing the Hijab in Islam is given momentous prominence. During an interview with the Nobel peace prizewinner about the hijab she states, “Man in early times was almost naked, and as his intellect evolved he started wearing clothes. What I am today and what

Despite all the values that the hijab is representing in different countries of the world, the only value that is demanded is the egalitarianism and justice value, whether a woman is wearing the veil or not, they are “calling for equal access to divorce, child custody, and inheritance; equal opportunities for education and employment; and abolition of

One of the most common human characteristics is the impulse to make sense of things by asking: why are things the way they are? Whether it’s from judgement or just plain curiosity, it’s in human nature to ask why one is wearing this or doing that. The essay "My Body is My Own Business" is written by Naheed Mustafa, a Canadian Muslim woman, who discusses the stereotypes and judgements that Muslim women in the western world are subject to because of the hijab. Mustafa talks about how it is unnecessary for women to follow the beauty standards that have been predetermined for them and also how true equality could only be achieved without women displaying themselves to the public.

Culture permeates every part of life. As Americans, maybe this is harder to see. Yet, everything from the way we talk to what we choose to wear is the result of culture. This makes it vital to understand that many things have a cultural significance. Abu-Lughod expresses her dismay over the “obsession with the plight of Muslim women” being focused on the burqa (209). Many people have adopted the burqa as the symbol of the oppression of Muslim women. Yet, the burqa is simply a form of covering originally specific to the Pashtun people. Each form of covering is part of the Islamic religion. Each holds significance for the community that wears it. The purpose of women wearing a veil of any kind is to “assure their protection in the public sphere from the harassment of

Some Muslim women believe that although the principles of modesty are clearly outlined in the Qu’ran, they perceive the wearing of the headscarf as a cultural interpretation of these scriptures. These women sometimes believe that the values espoused by the wearing of the headscarf can be achieved in other ways. Some women believe that while the hijab allowed women in the past to engage in public society without garnering attention, the headscarf in contemporary Western society brings more attention to women and is thus contradictory to its original purpose. Others believe that the hijab and other external practices have become inappropriately central to the practice of Islam, and instead choose to focus on their internal and spiritual relationship with God.While some women might choose not to wear the hijab, most Muslim women agree that it is a woman’s choice whether or not she wears the hijab. Many Muslim and Arab women who have chosen not to wear the hijab are often staunch advocates of a woman’s right to choose to

When I was seven years old, my mom introduced me to a concept that changed my life. It was called a hijab. I remember as a kid, hearing endless stories about how it was an essential part of my identity. I remember if my mom wore it, I wore it. It was a pivotal and a defining moment in my childhood. I was told to wear it with pride and dignity and to never let those who question my decisions give me a reason to take it off. In essence, I was told to not think of the hijab as a burden, but rather a beauty.

Women who cover themselves are assumed to be coerced or capitulating to make pressure, despite the fact that wearing an enveloping. Over is mandatory (in public) in only a few settings and that educated Muslim women in the past thirty years have struggled with the opposite problem: They must defy their families and sometimes the law to take on what they value as pious Islamic dress. (pg.17)

Another stereotype of Muslims that media has constructed is around hijabis. Often if a Muslim woman is wearing a hijab, oppression, conservative, traditionalism is associated with them. Rarely is it asked, “was it your choice”. Every woman wearing a hijab may not have to option to chose to wear it or not, but often, it is the women’s individual decisions to decide to wear a hijab or not. Some will wear it when they feel they are ready, some will wear it to be closer to God, and some will wear it as a step towards being religious. No matter what the reason, it doesn’t mean oppression, or being narrow-minded. In every major religion, there is a

Though I concede that the American Hijab may have oppressive aspects, I still insist that religious and personal freedom should not concede to societal pressures to conform due to cultural stereotypes. If American Muslim women let America take away their choice to wear the hijab for the sake of societal comfort and personal agenda, this would be submitting to an act of terrorism,the use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims. America stands by its impermeable rule, We do not negotiate with terrorists, and I don’t believe that citizens should have to negotiate and compromise their identity. The fundamental beliefs of this nation are the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This does not mean that all

The author, Naheed Mustafa, starts out with two points of view others have of her, a “Muslim terrorist” or an oppressed woman (Mustafa 1). However, with these two points of view, Mustafa is suggesting that people only view her in these two ways because in their eyes a Muslim woman cannot be more. Then she introduces the hijab, a scarf which covers her neck, head, and throat, but explains that young Muslim women like her are “reinterpreting” the purpose of the hijab: give women absolute control over their bodies. According to Mustafa, the hijab does not only give women absolute control but freedom. Yet, others do not understand this concept or why a young woman who was born in a land that is free and full of opportunities like North America

Additionally in CNN’s article, two teenagers explain why they wear the hijab and their experience wearing it.The first girl interviewed, named Rowaida Abdelaziz, explains that she does not want the public to think she wears the hijab because she is submissive. Nor, does she want to receive pitiful stares, or hear people whispering about her. "It represents beauty to me," says Abdelaziz. "My mom says a girl is like a jewel, when you have something precious, you usually

Hi Sarah I think you did a really good on your post. I like how you point out that both cases were not won in the first court it was taken, but rather until it reached the Supreme Court. Which I think is interesting because it shows how the judges of the district and superior court were in a way kind of bias to not realize that by allowing schools to mandate prayer time they were violating the student’s First Amendment rights. I also think that we can kind of still see that up to date, what I’m referring to is the bill that Georgia had intended to pass banning Muslim women from wearing their hijab. All in all, you did really good on your post and explain the important details of the cases.

I was born into a family of mixed cultures and religions. My father was Christian and my mother was of an Islamic descent. I was always respectful to any religion, regardless of it’s beliefs, because it is a symbol of devotion and peace. When I grew up, I was fascinated to see how quickly Islam started to spread in Western parts of the world. My fascination was also followed by disbelief of how ignorant and cruel anti-islamic activists were, blaming every single act of terror and violence onto a religious group. I could believe it on a global scale, but I never knew it was something that could wait for anyone wearing hijab, right around the corner. In my first semester at Hawaii Pacific University, I decided to wear hijab to school, just

The hijab used as a symbol of the Muslim culture is just one characteristic of how it can be perceived; the hijab is also a sign of life, safety and personal identity (Tabassum, 2006, p. 37). Tabassum (2006) interviews an individual by the name of Raheelah who identifies the hijab as not just a piece of clothing that covers a Muslim women’s face, but also as a portrayal of themselves as a person (p. 37).

Wearing a hijab actually frees women from being thought of as sexual objects of desire or from being valued for their looks, or body shape rather than their minds and intellect. (Aisha) Nowadays, so many posters on the street, advertisements on the road, films watched, and celebrities chased, to be successful internationally; they should include sexual appearances of women in order to entertain the viewer and thus belittling women’s capability. That’s why hijab liberates women from the need to conform to unrealistic stereotypes and images dictated by the media. (Aisha) In addition to that, wearing a hijab can also refrain from the occurrence of harassment and limits men lust motives. When a woman covers her hair and body she is forcing men to respect her and to look at her inner personality rather than a mere sexual