Women in Hijab:

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Women in Hijab The Rationale Behind Wearing
the Headscarf
Presented by Emily Palmer 05 Mentored by
Professor Debra Majeed Research Partner Kelly
Skibiski 07 April 14, 2005
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Types of Coverings that Muslim Women Wear
Burka
Chador
Hijab
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Four Major Influences in A Womans Decision to
Wear Hijab

• Her Islamic community
• Her interpretation of the Quran
• Her attempt to establish a personal identity
• The pressures of her social environment

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Quranic Basis of the Hijab

• Ayats specifically address the issue of women
  covering themselves-Surah 2431 Lo! Allah is
  aware of what they (women) dodraw their veils
  over their bosoms and not reveal their adornment,
  save their own husbands or fathers.
• Surah 3359 "O Prophet! Tell thy wives and thy
  daughters and the women of the believers to draw
  their cloaks close round them (when they go
  abroad). That will be better so they may be
  recognized and not annoyed.i
• One hadith addresses the issue "'Oh Asmaa!
  When a girl reaches menstrual age, it is not
  proper that anything should remain exposed except
  this and this.' He pointed to the face and
  hands."i i

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Analysis of Surahs and Hadith

• Some Muslim scholars argue that the Surahs and
  hadith where the concept of hijab derived need to
  be put into cultural context and not applied to
  all Muslim women.
• Surah 2431 Some women used to leave the front
  of their tunic open and were showing their
  breasts in public. This was a call for general
  modesty.
• Surah 3353 Prophet Muhammads wives only
• Surah 3359 Muhammads tribe was in war and
  needed a way to distinguish their women from the
  opposing sides women.
• Hadith is weak because origins are not known.

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Reasons Women Began Wearing Hijab

• Muslim men and some women thought the Quran
  mandated it
• Muhammads wives were instructed to cover their
  hair because they were of a higher status, and
  other women began doing this to emulate them
• It was practical for women to cover their hair in
  the desert climate
• It became an identity factor
• The tradition was carried to other parts of the
  world with the spread of Islam

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How Does This Connect to American Muslim Women
in American Culture?

• American media has implanted a negative image of
  Muslim women into our society.

• Negative images in American media make it harder
  for American Muslim women who cover their hair to
  be accepted into American society.

• This type of negative attention could affect a
  womans choice to wear hijab.

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The Influence of an American Muslim Womans
Islamic Community

• An American Muslim woman considers the
  conventions and customs of her mosque when
  choosing when and if to wear hijab.
• The mosque or Islamic center that a woman
  associates herself with defines her religious
  beliefs, and helps to shape her identity as an
  American Muslim woman.

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Her Attempt to Establish a Muslim Identity

• Muslim women today wear hijab to identify
  themselves as Muslims.
• Want to distinguish American Muslim culture and
  do so by wearing hijab in a certain style, or by
  not wearing hijab at all.
• Important because it distinguishes American form
  of Islam from others, and adds a distinct
  American flavor to their religiosity.

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Her Interpretation of the Quran

• A womans interpretation can vary widely,
  depending on her upbringing and cultural
  background.
• A womans decision to wear hijab depends on
  whether or not she feels the Quran mandates her
  to wear it.
• Women are beginning to empower themselves by
  reading the Quran
• Debate about hijab and whether or not the Quran
  mandates wearing it has opened new doors for
  women. Women are now reading the Quran
  themselves to see what it says instead of
  listening to the male interpretation of it.

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Sister Brendas African-American Muslim Identity

• I was already used to wearing a head covering
  because of my African-American heritage. When I
  converted to Islam, it was no change wearing a
  headscarf because of my religious beliefs, than
  it was to wear one because of my cultural
  beliefs.
• Brenda, an African-American Muslim woman, designs
  clothes for Muslim women, catering to the
  African-American population. Sister Brenda tries
  so hard to establish her identity as an
  African-American Muslim woman that she says,
  Ive gotten the impression from some non-African
  American Muslim women that my designs are too
  stylish.

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The Pressure of Her Social Environment

• A woman can be pressured to or not to wear hijab
  by the social environment she is engaged in,
  whether at work, the neighborhood she lives in,
  her family life, etc.
• A Muslim woman interviewed stated that she would
  take off her head covering a block away from work
  and put it on a block away after work because she
  was uncomfortable wearing hijab at work, but
  didnt want to betray her religion.

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The Pressure of Her Social Environment Family
It is most common for families of Muslim converts
to have a hard time becoming accustomed to their
daughters hijab 1) because they are from a
different religious background and 2) because it
is the most visible aspect of their daughters
beliefs Even before, my family always accepted
my activities and my deep faith, even if they
didnt share it. They were not as open-minded,
however, when I started to wear hijab. They
worried that I was cutting myself off from
society, that I would be discriminated against,
that it would discourage me from reaching my
goals, and they were embarrassed to be seen with
me. They thought it was too radical.
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Conclusion

• Many Americans assume that when they see a woman
  wearing hijab, she is oppressed, weak, and
  mandated by her religion to do so.
• However, women's reasons for wearing hijab are
  varied.
• Through this symposium, I hope I have helped you
  understand the rationale that some women use to
  employ head covering as part of their Muslim
  identity.

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Bibliography
Anway, Carol L. Daughters of Another Path
Experiences of American Women Choosing Islam.
Lees Summit, MO Yawna Publications, 1996. p.
58. Alvi, Sjida Sultana and Homa Hoodfar and
Sheila McDonough, et al. The Muslim Veil in
North America. Toronto Womens Press, 2003,
186-192. Hasan, Asma Gull. American Muslims
The New Generation. New York Continuum Press,
2000. p. 35 Hijab An Act of Faith,
Soundvision. Chicago 1993. Pickthall, Mohammed
Marmaduke. The Meaning of the Glorious Quran
An Explanatory Translation. New York New
American Library, date unknown. Surahs
2430-3359. Brenda ajdklaf, Personal interview,
November 20, 2004.
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Thank you for coming!
Special thanks to Prof. Debra Majeed Kelly
Skibiski Dave Maggio Elaine Palmer Sisters of AST