These days, as I suffer miserably from hot flashes, I wonder how women in hijab manage menopause. At least some must find it tough.

Other than that total projection on my part, sometimes I notice the pretty scarves. Mostly I don't think twice.

Hijabs don't make me look twice. However, I was taken aback by a woman in a burqa who asked me a question at Target one day.

freaked me out bc her eyes were covered - So I couldn't see anything! I hope she didn't notice that I reacted. But it did surprise me.

Anonymous wrote:

That is not the hijab of today. The hijab of today is a political construct that has been forced onto women. Yes, in America, they have free choice to wear or not to wear but that is not the case everywhere and that's what I dislike about the hijab of today the most. Women are being forced to cover and here where they have free will instead of standing in solidarity for the freedom of those women around the world by not wearing or condoning the hijab, they wear it and then ask questions like the OP about why they are being looked at strangely or treated differently and pointing to the overused "Islamophobia" reason when someone does not agree with their reason that it is for their religion.

I really dislike the hijab since I believe that many women are forced or pressured to wear it even in this country. Sure some choose to wear it but I distinctly remember stories of the Taliban punishing women who were not strictly covered. I also have read too many stories of honor killings and of the oppression of women in many Islamic areas. Honor killings have even been known to happen here!

As for the burqa, full face coverings, and oppressive heavy coats and clothes in very hot weather, I detest them all since I see them as treating women as inferior beings and as treating other men as sex fiends who are unable to control themselves. I honestly think full face coverings should be banned in many public places for security reasons.

As for modesty, I believe modest dress is best too since I also detest the over sexualization of women. Sadly, though what I consider modest such as mid thigh shorts or skirts, capri pants, bikinis that have some coverage, camisole tops, and gasp even some cleavage showing is not considered modest by people who adhere to the practice of covering women.

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.

+2

I notice the hijab but it has no effect on me. Other than to take notice of pretty fabric or something. A Niqab though? Makes me uncomfortable. So would any face covering unless the weather warranted it.

The way it's worn when it's cultural or as an accessory is very different than when it's worn as a true hijab.

Culturally or as an accessory-

You don't care if it slides down
You don't wear a skull cap underneath to prevent even one little small visible hair be seen from the hairline
You don't pin it tightly under your chin
You don't have to cover up your ears
You don't wear 15 pins all around it to make sure it stays put because if it slides and someone of the opposite sex that is not or father or brother sees you, you will be condemned.
You don't make sure it's in place before you do something as mundane as checking the mailbox
And of course, you don't have to wear it every single day.

People used to just throw a scarf lightly around their hair, didn't matter if it was only around the crown and the front of your hair that frames your face was shown. That was traditional dress (not strictly religious) in some areas of South Asian countries and in some areas of the Middle East. It's worn as a scarf and when you needed it for protection from sun or wind or cold, you just threw it around your head rather loosely. Some Hindu women and all Sikh women (and Sikh men) will just lightly cover their head when entering a temple or gurdwara. Same would be the case for Muslim women.

That is not the hijab of today. The hijab of today is a political construct that has been forced onto women. Yes, in America, they have free choice to wear or not to wear but that is not the case everywhere and that's what I dislike about the hijab of today the most. Women are being forced to cover and here where they have free will instead of standing in solidarity for the freedom of those women around the world by not wearing or condoning the hijab, they wear it and then ask questions like the OP about why they are being looked at strangely or treated differently and pointing to the overused "Islamophobia" reason when someone does not agree with their reason that it is for their religion.

I don't like it, but I don't stare and I actually do cover my hair from time to time, loosely, for fashion sometimes, also when I'm having a bad hair day or when I'm cold outside. I don't care if there are strands showing or if it's only covering my crown. So I would say to the pp- sure go for it!

Anonymous wrote:I went to high school (an all-girls independent school) with a Muslim girl, who really struggled when her family made her start wearing a hijab. It was devastating to her at first and she tried fighting it, but then she finally gave up the battle. A spark in her died with that headscarf and whether it was self-imposed or the other kids discomfort, she went from being fairly popular to really isolated. I always felt so sorry for her. When I see a woman in a hijab, part of me pities her. The other part is angry that she doesn't fight harder for her rights and continues wearing that symbol of oppression.

Mission accomplished. Her family prevented her from becoming too enmeshed in non-Muslim society and from having too many non-Muslim friends. The isolation was the point.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I started wearing the hijab few years ago, and I was happy and very much satisfied with my decision. I never felt the scarf would hinder anything in my life or make me a subject to discrimination...but lately with all what's going on in the world with ISIS and the heated media against Muslims makes me angry because my religion got hijacked. I have to admit that I'm becoming way more sensitive to my surrounding now...there are times I get dirty looks here and there or sometimes people assume that I'm dumb or less educated...it bothers me.

Those of you wearing the scarf, what are your thoughts? Have you had any bad experience lately?

Those of you who are non Muslims, what are your thoughts when you see a woman wearing the scarf? Are you scared of Muslims?

I'm not afraid of Muslims.

When I see a woman with scarf or a hijab, I pity her, however. But then again, I'm not fond of oppression.

g
I don't really care what grown women do with their clothes, but I get really pissed off when I see little girls (8 or 10 or 12) in a head covering, jeans and a long sleeve knit shirt in July at someplace like Six Flags. It's brutally hot out. Putting a kid in those kinds of clothes is cruel.

Anonymous wrote:I started wearing the hijab few years ago, and I was happy and very much satisfied with my decision. I never felt the scarf would hinder anything in my life or make me a subject to discrimination...but lately with all what's going on in the world with ISIS and the heated media against Muslims makes me angry because my religion got hijacked. I have to admit that I'm becoming way more sensitive to my surrounding now...there are times I get dirty looks here and there or sometimes people assume that I'm dumb or less educated...it bothers me.

Those of you wearing the scarf, what are your thoughts? Have you had any bad experience lately?

Those of you who are non Muslims, what are your thoughts when you see a woman wearing the scarf? Are you scared of Muslims?

If anything, I'm secretly jealous because you didn't have to do your hair. Whether that's true or not, if I had any thoughts about the issue it would be that.

Anonymous wrote:Forty pages of comments on the hijab:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/520851.page

Personally I don't like it because I believe the vast majority of those who do believe it is required by Islam--my view is it is not.

So my prejudice on seeing a woman wearing a hijab is that she is doing so because: 1) she believes in a fundamentalist version of Islam that allows for no critical thinking, b) her family has forced her to do, c) she comes from a country where it is required or d) she wears it so her family will not be less suspicious that she is doing something she shouldn't. There are a couple of other fringe reasons, like wearing it as a sign of Muslim pride--that is, more as identifier as belonging to a group from which others are excluded.

I could see the hair accessory point of view, but only if sometimes she didn't cover her hair--otherwise we are back to one of the above.

I can't fathom, why women in today's day and age and in a free country like the US, would wear a headscarf or a burka. When I see a woman wearing any of these, the first emotion is sadness. : More so if they are wearing it out of their own free will. Like someone's holding an invisible gun to your head. Do this or else.. Even in a free country. Whoever said hijab is a hair accessory.. You got to be kidding. No comparison to a hijab and Sophia Lirens scarf there. None. Just saying.
Not saying wear skimpy clothes, but celebrate and enjoy who you are, hair, face, arms, legs.. All of you. Why the need to cover or identify yourself differently always? I wear clothes from my culture many times but I would never let myself be tied down to that.. Know what I mean? I am much more than a religion or a symbol.

Forty pages of comments on the hijab:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/520851.page

Personally I don't like it because I believe the vast majority of those who do believe it is required by Islam--my view is it is not.

So my prejudice on seeing a woman wearing a hijab is that she is doing so because: 1) she believes in a fundamentalist version of Islam that allows for no critical thinking, b) her family has forced her to do, c) she comes from a country where it is required or d) she wears it so her family will not be less suspicious that she is doing something she shouldn't. There are a couple of other fringe reasons, like wearing it as a sign of Muslim pride--that is, more as identifier as belonging to a group from which others are excluded.

I could see the hair accessory point of view, but only if sometimes she didn't cover her hair--otherwise we are back to one of the above.

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?

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.

+1 and I am religious!

I went to high school (an all-girls independent school) with a Muslim girl, who really struggled when her family made her start wearing a hijab. It was devastating to her at first and she tried fighting it, but then she finally gave up the battle. A spark in her died with that headscarf and whether it was self-imposed or the other kids discomfort, she went from being fairly popular to really isolated. I always felt so sorry for her. When I see a woman in a hijab, part of me pities her. The other part is angry that she doesn't fight harder for her rights and continues wearing that symbol of oppression.

Anonymous wrote: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!

It's not just Islam though. Traditionally, Judaism and Christianity required or encouraged women to cover their hair also. Heck, 150 years ago in this country it was socially inadvisable for an adult man or woman to go outside without wearing a hat. That wasn't religion, just culture. In the Middle Ages in England women of status covered their hair with elaborate head coverings. Female hair has been a sex symbol in many cultures for a long time.