A Modest, Modernized Society

Nejwa Hamad

Oct. 8, 2019

In today’s day and age, we are surrounded by people of different ethnicities. However, many are unable to keep an open mind to this. These people appear to us as ignorant, wanting to be confined in their close knit society. Their insensitivity spreads constantly throughout time, yet the education system does absolutely nothing to educate them on why their viewpoints are out of pure xenophobia. This ignorance is mainly targeted at people of color, those of whom the history books have failed to properly include. An example of this harsh treatment can be seen between non Muslims interacting with Muslim women who choose to wear the Hijab.

What is the hijab? A hijab, or as many mistakenly interpret it, is a headscarf that Muslim women choose to wear, not forced. Hijab in the Arabic language signifies partition. Contrary to popular belief, Muslim women are not required to wear the hijab; there are five pillars of Islam, in which wearing the hijab is not one of them. However, in different Islamic societies, men feel the need to overpower every human being, which does not embody the practices of Islam. Therefore, in places such as Afghanistan, women are forced to wear the hijab. In more westernized societies, such as America, they have the freedom of choice. Nevertheless, some Muslim girls do not wear the hijab for a significant amount of reasons. One of them being, they cannot endure the discrimination they would be facing everyday.

In countries like France, they put restrictive bans on the different types of hijabs. Women are no longer allowed to be seen in public with a burka nor a niqab. The burka covers the body from head to toe, shielding the face, including the eyes; whereas the niqab allows for them to be seen. It is different, and probably strange to many, but it is someone’s culture. Asking someone to compromise to society’s restrictions is a violation of human rights.

Twelve year old Fatima Ablderahman has also faced discrimination in the west, in a “modernized” country known as Canada. She chooses to wear the hijab, however T.A agents were not comfortable with this. Apparently, she appeared as a completely different person in her passport picture, which does not show her with her hijab. Fatima was forced to take off her hijab in front of everyone. Women wear the hijab to appear modest and shield their beauty, and to also show that they are proud to be seen as Muslim women. Men outside of immediate family are not allowed to see women without their hijab, as it is one of the rules that coincide with wearing the headscarf. Fatima expressed that she felt completely ridiculed and confused, as there was a man with a hat, who was not asked to take it off. It is not considered two different scenarios, it is complete discrimination against Muslim women who wear the hijab. The T.A agent could have taken Fatima aside, with a woman, so she could prove her identity. Unfortunately, the lack of cultural knowledge within the world continues to flow. Furthermore, Fatima’s story is one of many that continue to happen to Muslim women worldwide.

The education system does teach different cultures, although they do not expand on it. For example, they say Muslim women wear the hijab. But, why, some may ask. The United States sees people of different colors and religions in the everyday life, yet there is a lack of recognition and appreciation towards these people. Americans are indifferent when it comes to topics like these, since many educate themselves on their own, though it would be much easier if the school system would go in depth with their cultural teaching, where they are taught by someone qualified and untouched by the biases of the many potential sources they may find about Islam for example, on the internet.

Although there is so much negativity surrounding the hijab, hijabi women are now being appreciated in the western society. Many are featured in advertisements, and there is even a Nike hijab brand. This inclusivity supports Muslim women as a whole, and demonstrates that they are welcome and that they can represent themselves with their hijabs. If society can continue to incorporate this agenda of inclusivity, it can lessen the anxiety of Muslim women feeling out of the ordinary and not having to worry if someone will pull off their hijab if they were casually strolling down the street.