American Hijab Persuasive Essay Examples

My name is Sloan Marmaduke; I am 20 years old, and I wear a hijab. Arabs in America (2016) describe a hijab, an Arabic word for “cover”, to be a veil or headscarf. I chose to wear a hijab shortly after turning 14 to express my love for the Islam faith. Wearing a hijab can be very difficult at times. When I walk in public, I sometimes find people staring at me and it makes me uncomfortable and I have this feeling that I’m not appreciated or wanted. Sometimes, I wish people would step into my shoes for a day to observe and interact with my daily lifestyle. I find myself to be a privileged woman, and I love my life but sometimes, other people’s assumptions about my life based on what I wear on my head can be unnerving.

Lastly she argues that the hijab isn’t about oppression, it’s about free-will, and how it helps you feel liberated as a woman. I agree with Yusufali's argument on how our society strictly bases its views on the appearance of women. People all over the people judge women based on their looks, instead of their values as a human. Like Yusufali said, women can’t truly be liberated until we as humans, realize that the looks of women isn’t the most important quality.

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

In Iran, where wearing the hijab is mandatory, women have been photographed waving their white hijabs as a sign of protest of their unequal treatment (Mohammed, 2018). Even as a woman in Canada, writer Yasmin Mohammed (2018) felt oppressed by her family forcing her to wear the hijab and niqab. However, some people like Zunera Ishaq (2015) take exception to the assumption made that because she wears the niqab it signifies that she is oppressed. Ishaq (2015) states that it is “precisely because I won’t listen to how other people want me to live my life that I wear the niqab” (par. 3). Thus, to Ishaq wearing of the niqab in Canada is not a symbol of oppression, but a symbol of her freedom to express her identity and religion in a way that she chooses.

However, through briefly analyzing both cases, it becomes clear that this justification is propelled by anti-Islamic sentiments rather than the will to protect democracy from rampant oppressive patriarchy or an imminent threat of public safety. This is obvious because Islamic headscarves are being targeted rather than other examples of religious headscarves which can be found in Christianity or Judaism. Thus, through not applying this ruling to all religious headscarves it becomes clear that there is no real interest in protect Muslim women, but a vested interest in restricting expressions of the Islamic faith due to xenophobic rhetoric. In addition to this, Marshall correctly points out that there is no direct correlation between the wearing of a headscarf by a Muslim woman and gender inequality. As long as it is the choice of women to wear the headscarf, I see no issue with Muslim women wearing them in

Having lived my whole life by the teachings of the Islamic faith, I understand the appreciations and values associated with the Hijab. However, also living in Canada, a pro-western society, I also see how some might see it as an oppression set upon Muslim women; objectively isolating them from the rest of society. I believe that the Hijab means much more than just a piece of cloth covering a woman’s hair. It represents their identity and their pride. It is considered to be the flag of their way of life, their religion. Unfortunately, people of other cultures see it as a horrific tradition of the past that degrades a woman’s rights and freedoms.

They believe if they have a “all-American identity” they will be free from discrimination (Green, 2016). For instance, Muslim Americans feel that there is a requirement to showcase more of a watered down version of their religion when they are out in public. Often they feel they have to hide their foreign names, change their appearances, avoid talking in their native language, or remove from their religious views. Muslim Americans believe they need to make themselves fit in with the American standard and a appear “normal” (Green, 2016). Muslim Americans have to hide their own practices and compensate for American standards in order to be free from

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

The bombing of the Twin Towers turned America’s focused toward the Middle East. The War on Terrorism began in earnest. This war has brought about more than one conflict. As a nation, the United States is unique. The government is not run by any particular regime or religion, there is freedom. Yet, this is our unique brand of freedom. The Middle East is full of peoples with their own way of life that do not necessarily agree with the way we see freedom. Lila Abu-Lughod discusses one of the many difference between the United States and the Middle East, the use of head coverings and the burqa, in her article “Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving?” She examines the cultural significance and different types of veiling.

When I started going to school in Canada I felt pressured to redefine my identity and felt pressured to take my hijab off because I wanted to fit, I wanted other people to see me like they would see any other person. I wanted to let my long, thick, black hair out. I wanted it to dance in the wind, blow around wildly in different directions. I remember people asking me don’t you want to show your hair or don’t you get hot wearing hijab. I would tell them, of course, I want to take it off, but I can’t and they would ask me why, but I had no answer even though I was wearing hijab I didn’t know why I was wearing hijab, I didn’t know what it meant and what was the purpose of wearing hijab. So, I asked my mom, I read some books just to find out what does wearing hijab

In the US Constitution, the first amendment states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…” However, this law is being ignored when it comes to Muslim women in the US. Muslim women in the US, just like everyone else, have the right to practice their religion and have every right to be treated respectfully and not be discriminated or harassed because of their religion or their gender. Many muslim women practice the hijab and wear loose fitting clothes because it is a sign of modesty, distinction and to not call attention upon themselves (McCloud 51). However, in the past few decades discrimination has been occurring against them due to their lifestyle and the way they

When we see outside today,you will see the different races and people. Well now some of those population might decrease, because of the new ban Donald J. Trump issued. He sighed the ban saying that citizens of North Korea, Chad, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen are limiting entry to the U.S. Even though Iraqi citizens don’t have the same restrictions they are slowing their entry. President Trump states that this will be a great deal in for the safety of America and will help reduce the inconvenience for U.S. when applying citizenships. Later after the ban was officially decided he tweeted,"Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet." When later asked homeland

Here in the United States, some individuals think that by wearing a hijab you are you enforcing the belief that Muslim women are being forced to wear one despite the reason that some of these women wear it’s a sign of freedom. Therefore, it appears that to some women, the veil is unjust; while other women feel it is not unjust but a decision they made on their own in dedication to their religion. Still, for many women especially the ones in Western countries, they have no choice and for that reason alone, they are being made to wear a

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).

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