Hijab: Unveiling One Month Later: Article Analysis

With the recent interest of the media on the topic of hijab and the oppressive symbol that it is portrayed to be, I have decided to write my paper on the hijab and what it means to various Muslim women. This topic is important and worth studying because most of the information that is relayed about the hijab by the media is not based on the opinion of Muslim women who actually wear the hijab in North America. Currently, feminists around the world have started a campaign for a “#nohijabday.” Although this movement initially began in order to speak out against the Iranian government for forcing Iranian women to don the hijab, it quickly spiraled out of control on social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook. This event has led to an influx

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.

Muslim women all throughout the world are being discriminated against because of the clothing that they wear. After recent terrorist attacks, the stigma of Muslims being terrorists has become even more apparent. This has led to multiple harassments and hate crimes against Muslim women, primarily in Western countries. The discrimination has become so bad that some are suggesting that women who practice Islam shouldn’t wear hijabs or other veils while in public. It sounds like a great solution, but, in a way, would also violate their rights of religion. There’s also the fact that women in hijabs are viewed as being controlled by men. However, there are many Muslim women who are very independent and are not wearing the veils because a man told them to do so.

There is also a great deal of conflict found in Americans’ misunderstanding and ignorance of issues regarding women’s rights and gender equality within the religion and practices of Islam. In the context of American society, the traditional wear of Muslim women is often misinterpreted and misunderstood. The hijab, which is used to veil the heads of Muslim women, rarely goes unnoticed in the eyes of most Americans. Non-Muslims frequently associate this piece of traditional Islamic attire with ideas of subordination and oppression, while disregarding the religious, cultural, and personal motivations that influence a woman’s decision to wear such an article of clothing. While many American women might view Islamic dress code as being confining and restrictive, many Muslim women feel that their clothing actually frees them from the negative attention that can stem from one’s physical attire and appearance. Wearing hijab liberates women from “the constricting mores governing appearance such as fashion trends and the societal expectations of how a woman should look.” The modest covering of the hair and body allows a woman to walk freely in public without being subjected to the suggestive glances and flirtations of men.

politicians continue to make baseless links between terrorism and Muslim women's dress” . Through these statements the audience becomes aware of hardships faced and is persuaded to support them, illustrated in “Anyone who is actually concerned about the role and status of Muslim women would do will to listen to Muslim women rather than assume they can speak on their behalf”. Through this statements Ruby Hamad’s article helps to increase the awareness of adversities faced by Muslim women, as creates a positive and supportive view of the Muslim

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)

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

This article is argumentative in nature. The writer clearly makes a stand and expresses her reasons why the hijab should not be banned. This writer is speaking from her perspective as a Muslim woman. The average male reader could argue that she was biased but, I would have to disagree and say that she is writing from her angle of vision. She clearly has lived, observed and analyzed many facets of the Muslim women and their way of life. She has had family members, women, children, and cousins who have endured the way of life that included being mandated to wear the hijab scarf.

Throughout Deveiling Body Stories: Muslim Girls Negotiate Visual, Spatial and Ethical Hijabs by Manal Hamzeh, she examines the lives of four young Muslim girls named Layla, Amy, Douja, and Abby, and how the hijabs affect each of them. The girl’s ages ranged from fourteen to seventeen and she met with them over a period of fourteen months. Hamzeh was able to acquire a lot of interesting information about the girls and their lives at home.

American Muslim are oppressed by the the impression that the hijab is a reminder of the threat of terrorism. In Asma Khalid’s National Public Radio’s article, "Lifting The Veil: Muslim Women Explain Their Choice" where she interviews American Muslim women they discuss this as one of the reasons for unveiling. In the NPR article,Rasmieyh Abdelnabi, age 27, agrees with this concept talking about the huge responsibility that comes with the hijab, citing her own experiences she elaborates. “I’m the kind of person who likes to walk into a room and be unnoticed…when you wear hijab and you walk into a room, everyone notices you; everyone stares at you; everyone makes assumptions about you”(Khalid). The attention women receive from where the hijab is further discussed in an article on the website Arabs in America, a project directed by Dr. Sahar Amer, a Professor of Asian Studies at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Amer writes that some women believe“the headscarf brings more attention to women and is thus contradictory to its original purpose” (Amer). Both articles shared the concept of the hijab as an expression of cultural and religious identity.The negative perception of Muslims and the rise of “anti-Muslim zeal” post 9-11 is oppressive to American Muslim women as they fall victim to mistreatment, violence, and

Despite many Muslim American women openly declaring that their choice to don a hijab is a celebration of their personal identity, some American feminists believe that hijabs embody Islamic oppression through forcing overly conservative fashion on women (Haddad 261-262). These feminists fail to understand the nuances of the mid-twentieth century Islamic revival, which occurred as a response to many Muslim-majority countries beginning to westernize through the adoption of western fashion and the consumption of alcohol. During the revival, many Muslim women throughout the world began to revert back to traditional Islamic customs, such as wearing a hijab. This open acceptance of religious tradition allowed these women to reaffirm their faith and have a constant reminder of how their personal identities align with their spiritual beliefs (Gomaa).

Some of Muslim women who don’t wear a hijab, are not recognizable, meaning, you can’t tell what religion they are.. A hijab is a headscarf. Some of us, don’t wear it because we haven’t found the “right” time too or the “right” age to wear it. What I mean by that, you either wear it every day, or don’t wear it at all until you choose the right time to cover for the rest of your life. It is a big decision, because of the cruel world we live in. Some people whom are

When she stated, “They did not always have an opportunity to speak for themselves,” she was referring to the Muslim women in Islam dominated countries with people seeing them as victims of a patriarchal society where they cannot voice their opinions without having to suffer from a punishment. Also, because the images within the media showed women wearing burqas, which are also worn by Muslim women in America, people in the West see them as victims who are just crying out for help. It is not the social norm to wear a veil in the West because people believe in liberation when it comes to clothing, even if certain clothes may be terrifyingly revealing. They are unaware of the Islamic beliefs and that in countries, such as Afghanistan, the women accept the veil because it is part of their religion. Muslims follow rules and regulations that were divinely written within the Quran, and the burqa, which is considered to be a hijab (a veil/covering), is outlined within the Quran as follows:

Wearing the hijab for me is a very personal and an independent decision in pleasing and appreciating Allah (God) for all that he has done for us. To me the hijab is a gift from Allah. Wearing it had given me the opportunity to become closer to Allah, which is what I and many other Muslims seek in our life. Also most importantly it gave me the chance to stand up and be recognized as an independent Muslim woman. It had given me the opportunity to portray and represent my religion (Islam) as best as possible.

We want them to take us seriously and treat us as equals and not just chase us around for our bodies and physical looks." Muslim women that choose to wear the hijab claim that when covered they are filled will self-esteem and dignity.