what do you think when you see a woman in a hijab?

[Anonymous]

That she probably has amazing skin.

[Anonymous]

I think that she's oppressed and not respected in her household. I don't want to think this, but I do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That she probably has amazing skin.

+ 1

What do I think when I see anyone? That there is only one of me? That I am unique? That I like to people watch?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Now during summer...I think, "Damn she must be burning up."

Yup, this is what I think, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I remind myself (a white Jewish woman) to make eye contact and smile so she knows I'm friendly and not viewing her as a terrorist or something. I feel like Muslim women are viewed with a lot of suspicion and hostility, so I want to be clear it's not coming from me.

What does your white Jewish status have to do with this?

[Anonymous]

I felt sad and I feel angry toward men and angry toward the idea that women need to cover themselves up to protect themselves from men.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I felt sad and I feel angry toward men and angry toward the idea that women need to cover themselves up to protect themselves from men.

+1. Men should control themselves. Leaving aside the whole cult of virginity, why should the burden for ensuring stable marriages be on the woman?

[Anonymous]

I think that she is probably Muslim.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think "crap, I'm running late to pick up DS. I don't think I'm going to have time to get milk - is there any way to push that back to tomorrow? The dry cleaning, I can do, because DS likes to ring the bell when we walk in. I hope DH has dinner started..."

i love you.

[Anonymous]

That' she's an oppressed woman. I happen to agree with the French, who banned them in public schools and government workplaces.

[Anonymous]

I wonder if she's hot, and I wonder if she's judging me for showing my hair and arms!

Otherwise I assume she's nice and normal like me and I make an extra effort to smile because I wonder if she gets lots of people averting eye contact out of discomfort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think that she's oppressed and not respected in her household. I don't want to think this, but I do.

Be careful about judging too quickly. There may be some households like this, but since marrying into a family that has a Muslim woman as a member I've gotten to know her and her mom, sisters, aunts etc. My family member who is Muslim does not wear the hijab though she is religious. Her mom began wearing it when she was in her 30's and went through a difficult time, and felt God got her through. She feels it reminds her of her faith, that's all. Some of her sisters wear it, some not -- all a choice not dictated by husbands. These are all highly educated, strong, opinionated women.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if she judges me for showing my hair, working and for being an American.

I know Muslim women that work. I also know American Muslim women.

lol most Muslim women you see here are born in America. They are American. It's not one or the other.

[Anonymous]

I think they are obviously strong in the faith to continue to show it in such a visible way even though it invites an incredible amount of scorn.

[Anonymous]

If she's a fashionable, educated, upper-middle-class, socially confident Muslim woman who wears well-fitted clothes and then just has a really nice, matching scarf on her head, I think she looks like Grace Kelly.

If she's in a full length black abaya, I feel really sorry for her.

It's also weird for me because I was born and raised in India, and Muslim women in India (those from educated backgrounds) NEVER NEVER wear the hijab. They'd rather die than be seen in one. So seeing Muslim women in America wear a hijab has always been weird for me.