Hijab/headscarf for Muslims

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not religious but I come from a Muslim family. To me the hijab is nothing more than a hair accessory. Like a hat, extensions, a headband - it's an aesthetic that someone chooses to wear because they like it, and it means nothing more.

It does not mean they are a pious Muslim, and it does not mean they are scary or stupid. It's just a head/hair accessory, and I harbor no judgment against someone wear it.

Niqab or face covering? That's another story altogether. That shit needs to be banned.

I never realized this. I thought it was strictly religous. Some of the hijabs are very pretty, and I'd certainly like not to do my hair. Can I wear one (not muslim) as a pretty accessory without offense?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not religious but I come from a Muslim family. To me the hijab is nothing more than a hair accessory. Like a hat, extensions, a headband - it's an aesthetic that someone chooses to wear because they like it, and it means nothing more.

It does not mean they are a pious Muslim, and it does not mean they are scary or stupid. It's just a head/hair accessory, and I harbor no judgment against someone wear it.

Niqab or face covering? That's another story altogether. That shit needs to be banned.

I never realized this. I thought it was strictly religous. Some of the hijabs are very pretty, and I'd certainly like not to do my hair. Can I wear one (not muslim) as a pretty accessory without offense?

You will probably get looks, questions, and assumptions. But having known people who wear hijab and have done some pretty unethical things (having sex with someone not their spouse, drink alcohol, etc) not to mention the hijabis who wear gobs of makeup or very tight clothing. Which is fine, but not at all indicative of religiosity. And hence much more like a fashion accessory.

So I hold no judgement or opinion (negative or positive) about a woman wearing hijab any more than I do about a woman wearing sneakers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not religious but I come from a Muslim family. To me the hijab is nothing more than a hair accessory. Like a hat, extensions, a headband - it's an aesthetic that someone chooses to wear because they like it, and it means nothing more.

It does not mean they are a pious Muslim, and it does not mean they are scary or stupid. It's just a head/hair accessory, and I harbor no judgment against someone wear it.

Niqab or face covering? That's another story altogether. That shit needs to be banned.

I never realized this. I thought it was strictly religous. Some of the hijabs are very pretty, and I'd certainly like not to do my hair. Can I wear one (not muslim) as a pretty accessory without offense?

Sure, it's called a do-rag or the sixties look (try to accessorize the latter with a convertible).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hijabs doesn't bother me.

Niqabs actually really bother me. I feel that its an aggressive political statement in some ways seeing as its quite extreme to hide your face in that way.

After all as a society, we place a lot of value in facial expressions and non-verbal cues. I would not feel especially encouraged to start a conversation with someone in a niqab. Its sort of a Do Not Disturb sign.

+1. The niqab is a patriarchal cultural relic turned into a political statement. Some dispute that the Quran requires a woman to cover her hair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not religious but I come from a Muslim family. To me the hijab is nothing more than a hair accessory. Like a hat, extensions, a headband - it's an aesthetic that someone chooses to wear because they like it, and it means nothing more.

It does not mean they are a pious Muslim, and it does not mean they are scary or stupid. It's just a head/hair accessory, and I harbor no judgment against someone wear it.

Niqab or face covering? That's another story altogether. That shit needs to be banned.

I never realized this. I thought it was strictly religous. Some of the hijabs are very pretty, and I'd certainly like not to do my hair. Can I wear one (not muslim) as a pretty accessory without offense?

Well, to be fair, it's a matter of interpretation as to weather a wearing a hijab (or burka) is an indication of religious piety. There are a lot of muslims who would see it that way, and other muslims who don't consider it a necessity required by their religion. It's also quite cultural. In N. India, even Hindus from older generations cover their hair which is a cultural hand-me-down from the (muslim) Mughal dynasty.

[Anonymous]

I feel sorry for you.

[Anonymous]

Europe has banned them as a sign of oppression

[Anonymous]

I note it, like I do a yarmulke or a wig on an Orthodox Jew or a really huge crucifix on a Catholic. I assume the person is fairly religious, which makes me momentarily ashamed that I don't keep kosher. Then I move on and don't really think anything more about it.

I have no problems whatever with hijab. I don't think I could be friendly with a woman wearing a niqab, not that such a woman has ever spoken with me or likely ever will. Maybe because I'm Jewish and so accustomed to sartorial traditions and religious requirements, but the hijab and modesty requirements (long sleeves/pants/skirt) don't phase me at all. Religious Jewish women don't even wear pants, they mostly wear skirts, and married women cover their hair too. The Amish cover their hair. Catholic nuns cover their hair. Etc. Doesn't bother me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hijabs doesn't bother me.

Niqabs actually really bother me. I feel that its an aggressive political statement in some ways seeing as its quite extreme to hide your face in that way.

After all as a society, we place a lot of value in facial expressions and non-verbal cues. I would not feel especially encouraged to start a conversation with someone in a niqab. Its sort of a Do Not Disturb sign.

+1. The niqab is a patriarchal cultural relic turned into a political statement. Some dispute that the Quran requires a woman to cover her hair.

There's not really a dispute. The Quran absolutely does not mention anything about covering hair. It does encourage modesty for both men and women, and for them to cover their "ornaments." What that really means is ambiguous.

"Modesty" is a very cultural interpretation. If you wear niqab in the United States, I'd say that's highly immodest clothing - as you are drawing more attention to you. If you wear jeans and a 3/4 sleeve tee with ballet flats, that's much more modest, as you will blend in and not stick out.

[Anonymous]

I'm wondering if anyone would be willing to respond to the PP who mentioned in passing that she wondered if women in a hijab were judging women dressed less conservatively. For some reason I always feel like a hoochie when I see someone in a hijab and i'm wearing shorts. Should I continue to be embarrassed or do they not mind my outfit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm wondering if anyone would be willing to respond to the PP who mentioned in passing that she wondered if women in a hijab were judging women dressed less conservatively. For some reason I always feel like a hoochie when I see someone in a hijab and i'm wearing shorts. Should I continue to be embarrassed or do they not mind my outfit?

I'm a PP with a muslim family. And I have a ton of Muslim friends, mostly through my husband. My experience with that has been that American born Muslim women don't think twice about non-Muslim women wearing less. Foreign born Muslim women do care and comment on it. I was wearing a low cut tank with a summer weight sweater over it one day. Loose. No cleavage but it was low cut. And a couple of women were talking about my "summer attire." Not in a complimentary way.

And in Muslim countries where hijab is not legally required, women often exert a lot of social pressure (both positive and negative) to get other women to wear hijab.

All generalizations, but that has been my experience.

[Anonymous]

I lived in Indonesia for two years. I do notice hijabs though they are more common around DC than in other parts of the US, but it does not bother me. I do associate it with more conservative believers.

I wear fairly modest clothes anyway, but I used to love sleeveless shirts in the summer until I got to Indonesia. Folks there wear mini skirts and body hugging shirts, but you could not show your upper arms without it being perceived as a sex symbol of some kind.

Right now, my son has a Muslim woman math tutor who wears hijab. She's American. People do stare at her in the library. They stare at us talking like normal people. Right now, it is not easy being a Muslim woman who has chosen to wear hijab in the U.S.

The niqab choice though looks uncomfortable and hot and as others have noted, there is no religious reason for it.

I don't think most Muslim woman mind if you are in shorts. Don't be embarrassed. Some might judge you; others won't. But if you are invited to someone's house, it would be better to dress more modestly.

[Anonymous]

Not Muslim, but hijab is not an issue at all for me. My mom is old school Catholic and covers her head in church. I have Jewish friends who wear head scarves (rather than wigs).

Niqab, chador, and burka bother me. And I actually dress fairly modestly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm wondering if anyone would be willing to respond to the PP who mentioned in passing that she wondered if women in a hijab were judging women dressed less conservatively. For some reason I always feel like a hoochie when I see someone in a hijab and i'm wearing shorts. Should I continue to be embarrassed or do they not mind my outfit?

You should feel proud to live in a country that allows women to be themselves and dress as they please.

And if you are 16-30 you should be proud of your young and fit body and not oet archaic religious practices shame you for wearing normal.clothes.

You will never look as beautiful as you do during those years so be proud of whay God has given you.

[Anonymous]

I feel sad that women are covering their hair. Any degree of covering up seems rooted in sexism to me. But I agree it sometimes looks stylish and certainly would streamline dealing with my hair!