Comments on: Much talk about Hijab: Still a sign of oppression http://www.bellbajao.org/2010/03/17/much-talk-about-hijab-still-a-sign-of-oppression/ Bring Domestic Violence to a Halt Mon, 06 Feb 2012 07:09:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: rk http://www.bellbajao.org/2010/03/17/much-talk-about-hijab-still-a-sign-of-oppression/#comment-236 rk Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:26:11 +0000 http://bellbajao.org/?p=1907#comment-236 I am a muslimah living in west and have started wearing hijab about two years back. I thought it was the right think to do and I enjoy wearing it. But all around me including my family back home in India keep asking me not to wear. They have different reasons ranging from you can't show off your lovely ear-rings to that I will be unsafe in west if I wear hijab and since noone in my family does, why should I do that. The only person who never said anything against it is my husband. He is one who always supports me in all my decisions including this me. People normally don't count ladies like me who are under enormous pressure from family and friends and everyone else to take off the hijab. I think this kind of "opression" should be counted in as well. I am a muslimah living in west and have started wearing hijab about two years back. I thought it was the right think to do and I enjoy wearing it. But all around me including my family back home in India keep asking me not to wear. They have different reasons ranging from you can’t show off your lovely ear-rings to that I will be unsafe in west if I wear hijab and since noone in my family does, why should I do that.

The only person who never said anything against it is my husband. He is one who always supports me in all my decisions including this me.

People normally don’t count ladies like me who are under enormous pressure from family and friends and everyone else to take off the hijab. I think this kind of “opression” should be counted in as well.

]]> By: Shan http://www.bellbajao.org/2010/03/17/much-talk-about-hijab-still-a-sign-of-oppression/#comment-235 Shan Mon, 19 Apr 2010 12:18:46 +0000 http://bellbajao.org/?p=1907#comment-235 People have been talking about the items of clothing being a matter of choice, but there is one question that needs to be answered that is the true test of choice. I think really the question is this - how free is a woman to reject the abaya/burkha/niqab? What are the consequences if she decided not to wear it? a) Will everyone in her society accept it, and not be cool about it? b) Will they look down upon her, and disapprove, and needle her about it, but ultimately accept it? c) Will they proscribe her, question her morality, her piousness, and her allegiance towards Islam? If the answer is a), then the woman has true free will to choose. This is where the Sania Mirzas and many educated, empowered women and societies reside. If the answer is b) it is what many women face daily, (even Hindus when they decide not to take a dupatta, or not wear a sindoor, or when sikhs cut their kesh), but they are not persecuted, at least normally. But this is where the grey area is, and this is where many of middle class, normal people reside. This has women who wear jeans and tees at nightclubs but a ghunghat in front of her Ma-in-law. It can be termed oppression or it can be free will and has to be examined on a case to case basis. If the answer is c), it is pure and simple oppression, and no amount of " it's my choice" arguments can cover that fact up. In situation c) when women say it's their choice, they are either conditioned/brainwashed or parroting hoary old misogynistic tropes. This is my personal touchstone. I might be wrong, but my impression is that a) and b) don't even exist for many Muslim women living in Indian tier 2 cities like Hyderabad and Bangalore, and Lucknow. How can we call it their choice then? People have been talking about the items of clothing being a matter of choice, but there is one question that needs to be answered that is the true test of choice. I think really the question is this – how free is a woman to reject the abaya/burkha/niqab? What are the consequences if she decided not to wear it?

a) Will everyone in her society accept it, and not be cool about it?
b) Will they look down upon her, and disapprove, and needle her about it, but ultimately accept it?
c) Will they proscribe her, question her morality, her piousness, and her allegiance towards Islam?

If the answer is a), then the woman has true free will to choose. This is where the Sania Mirzas and many educated, empowered women and societies reside.

If the answer is b) it is what many women face daily, (even Hindus when they decide not to take a dupatta, or not wear a sindoor, or when sikhs cut their kesh), but they are not persecuted, at least normally. But this is where the grey area is, and this is where many of middle class, normal people reside. This has women who wear jeans and tees at nightclubs but a ghunghat in front of her Ma-in-law. It can be termed oppression or it can be free will and has to be examined on a case to case basis.

If the answer is c), it is pure and simple oppression, and no amount of ” it’s my choice” arguments can cover that fact up. In situation c) when women say it’s their choice, they are either conditioned/brainwashed or parroting hoary old misogynistic tropes.

This is my personal touchstone. I might be wrong, but my impression is that a) and b) don’t even exist for many Muslim women living in Indian tier 2 cities like Hyderabad and Bangalore, and Lucknow. How can we call it their choice then?

]]> By: does it matter http://www.bellbajao.org/2010/03/17/much-talk-about-hijab-still-a-sign-of-oppression/#comment-234 does it matter Sat, 10 Apr 2010 19:18:56 +0000 http://bellbajao.org/?p=1907#comment-234 I think there is too much talk going around this topic,there is no second thought that wearing a hijab becomes an obvious choice if you have been conditioned that way right from your childhood. Very few people will pick this on a later stage by choice. You call it religion, culture or whatever but conditioning plays an imnportant role.but at the same time these peculiar customs exist in all socities and you cant segregate "hijab" on stand alone basis. What about the dressing code of "nuns"?is it not similer?i cant see any difference other than the colour..my western friends used to wonder that how indian women display their belly in Sari,they think its immodest not to cover your belly.there are no prizes to guess that indian women are not comfortable wearing short skirts or other western dresses and dub western women as immodest. so the argument is endless..its pure conditioning nothing else..you feel strange bcoz you have not been conditioned that way and we start making conclusions about opression n all that jazz...we forget that we are also conditioned in some ways or the other which might be perceived by others as sign of opression or immodesty, so its best to leave it to people rather than making laws about them. I think there is too much talk going around this topic,there is no second thought that wearing a hijab becomes an obvious choice if you have been conditioned that way right from your childhood. Very few people will pick this on a later stage by choice. You call it religion, culture or whatever but conditioning plays an imnportant role.but at the same time these peculiar customs exist in all socities and you cant segregate “hijab” on stand alone basis. What about the dressing code of “nuns”?is it not similer?i cant see any difference other than the colour..my western friends used to wonder that how indian women display their belly in Sari,they think its immodest not to cover your belly.there are no prizes to guess that indian women are not comfortable wearing short skirts or other western dresses and dub western women as immodest. so the argument is endless..its pure conditioning nothing else..you feel strange bcoz you have not been conditioned that way and we start making conclusions about opression n all that jazz…we forget that we are also conditioned in some ways or the other which might be perceived by others as sign of opression or immodesty, so its best to leave it to people rather than making laws about them.

]]> By: Ridhima http://www.bellbajao.org/2010/03/17/much-talk-about-hijab-still-a-sign-of-oppression/#comment-233 Ridhima Mon, 05 Apr 2010 11:46:02 +0000 http://bellbajao.org/?p=1907#comment-233 Even i agree that it's a person's free will to choose what he/she wants... But regarding the burqa n hijab i have this opinion that women like wearing it because the men they encounter are perhaps lecherous. If a man stares at a girl with evil in his eyes, a girl feels like killing that chap. But if it happens again n again, she will harm her ownself with all the anger. So when she covers herself, most men turn their eyes or think twice before commenting. Its because of the 'men world' that women love feeling comfortable. Imagine a place where men were broad-minded and wont stare at any girl, and would mind their b'ness...not even staring at a girl wearing shorts... then most of the girls would be free from it. Still in such a society if a girl wears it... its her choice... in the end respect an individual's choice. Even i agree that it’s a person’s free will to choose what he/she wants… But regarding the burqa n hijab i have this opinion that women like wearing it because the men they encounter are perhaps lecherous. If a man stares at a girl with evil in his eyes, a girl feels like killing that chap. But if it happens again n again, she will harm her ownself with all the anger. So when she covers herself, most men turn their eyes or think twice before commenting. Its because of the ‘men world’ that women love feeling comfortable. Imagine a place where men were broad-minded and wont stare at any girl, and would mind their b’ness…not even staring at a girl wearing shorts… then most of the girls would be free from it. Still in such a society if a girl wears it… its her choice… in the end respect an individual’s choice.

]]> By: SG http://www.bellbajao.org/2010/03/17/much-talk-about-hijab-still-a-sign-of-oppression/#comment-232 SG Mon, 22 Mar 2010 05:08:10 +0000 http://bellbajao.org/?p=1907#comment-232 The first test is one of choice. Does the woman have a *real* choice of not wearing a certain article of clothing or jewellery? The second is one of equality. Does the man have to wear something similar--as in something of the same modesty and comfort level? As an Indian Hindu, I have been dictated to about wearing the sindoor and mangalsutra but I have been able to reject those dictates easily. If I am not able to in a certain community, it is the same as the hijab. If my husband does not need to wear such items, it is the same as the hijab. However, the problem I see with the hijab is that it is so extreme a symbol of modesty, unlike other religious/social symbols of our time. It's not just an addition to your clothing. The first test is one of choice. Does the woman have a *real* choice of not wearing a certain article of clothing or jewellery?

The second is one of equality. Does the man have to wear something similar–as in something of the same modesty and comfort level?

As an Indian Hindu, I have been dictated to about wearing the sindoor and mangalsutra but I have been able to reject those dictates easily. If I am not able to in a certain community, it is the same as the hijab. If my husband does not need to wear such items, it is the same as the hijab.

However, the problem I see with the hijab is that it is so extreme a symbol of modesty, unlike other religious/social symbols of our time. It’s not just an addition to your clothing.

]]> By: Indy http://www.bellbajao.org/2010/03/17/much-talk-about-hijab-still-a-sign-of-oppression/#comment-231 Indy Fri, 19 Mar 2010 01:21:55 +0000 http://bellbajao.org/?p=1907#comment-231 I am a practising (as best as I personally can) Muslim...one that would to outsiders seem a hijabi, namazi type apparently! I have been wearing the Abaya for about 3years now, out of choice, and even my family does not seem to get why I did this! My reasons were several. I felt better wearing it...I also wanted to have the courage to wear a symbol of my faith...perhaps like some wear a cross, a tikka, etc! Espy in the post 9-11 world when someone like me wud be easily categorised as "those"(questionable) kinds, I felt like challeneging the notion that we must be all awful if we are abiding! l When I'm looked at oddly I feel, look this is me, my deepest faith is reflected in my dressing...now if u want to judge me as bad for being this way without knowing me as a person, then that's your bad! But, I'm not about to bow to that! I am a practising (as best as I personally can) Muslim…one that would to outsiders seem a hijabi, namazi type apparently! I have been wearing the Abaya for about 3years now, out of choice, and even my family does not seem to get why I did this! My reasons were several. I felt better wearing it…I also wanted to have the courage to wear a symbol of my faith…perhaps like some wear a cross, a tikka, etc! Espy in the post 9-11 world when someone like me wud be easily categorised as “those”(questionable) kinds, I felt like challeneging the notion that we must be all awful if we are abiding! l When I’m looked at oddly I feel, look this is me, my deepest faith is reflected in my dressing…now if u want to judge me as bad for being this way without knowing me as a person, then that’s your bad! But, I’m not about to bow to that!

]]> By: Masarat Daud http://www.bellbajao.org/2010/03/17/much-talk-about-hijab-still-a-sign-of-oppression/#comment-230 Masarat Daud Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:31:21 +0000 http://bellbajao.org/?p=1907#comment-230 Thanks for the post Sanjukta! I don't think this post is much different from the debate we've had. I think your main issue is not with hijab per se, but it is the stereotyping/categorisation that religion and culture enforce on us. You have such a strong bias against the hijab that you may not accept that we're really not that oppressed. With Islam, the unfortunate part has been that the negative, radical elements have taken more media space than the 'normal' Islam. In Islam, we are asked to cover 'modestly', i.e. in a way that does not unnecessarily attract attention to your body (that may lead to problems such as rape). Modesty and how it is defined is a completely different topic. I agree with you--the Burkha does not make me more modest than you are. Modesty is in the intentions more than the clothing. So, moving on. There are different types of covering: some just cover the hair, some nly cover the body but keep the hair open, some cover the hair and body but keep the face open and some cover everything! I cover my body and hair and I don't think I am oppressed at all. I feel it gives me an individuality because it has made me make a place for myself with dignity, without compromising my value. People accept me for who I am and I never had to change myself to suit others. My values are given by family and my culture, not just religion. If religion asks us to pray 5 times and we are praying times, what is wrong with that? Just because we are 'following' religion does not make us oppressed or weak. All our religions and cultures have left us with symbols, rituals and scriptures and if we choose to follow ours, it really is nobody's business to judge us. There are cases where girls are pushed to wear the hijab but there are also people like me who don't find anything wrong with it. So why does everyone choose to listen to the 'oppressed' version but find it difficult to see the 'empowered' version? Problem is not with hijab, the problem is with the perspective of people that cannot accept it. Like I told you, I can wear anything underneath my 'cloak' without worrying about what others will think and if I will fit in. I am more free than any woman in a mini-skirt can be! Men judge me for who I am not for my cleavage. Thanks for the post Sanjukta! I don’t think this post is much different from the debate we’ve had. I think your main issue is not with hijab per se, but it is the stereotyping/categorisation that religion and culture enforce on us. You have such a strong bias against the hijab that you may not accept that we’re really not that oppressed.

With Islam, the unfortunate part has been that the negative, radical elements have taken more media space than the ‘normal’ Islam. In Islam, we are asked to cover ‘modestly’, i.e. in a way that does not unnecessarily attract attention to your body (that may lead to problems such as rape).

Modesty and how it is defined is a completely different topic. I agree with you–the Burkha does not make me more modest than you are. Modesty is in the intentions more than the clothing. So, moving on.

There are different types of covering: some just cover the hair, some nly cover the body but keep the hair open, some cover the hair and body but keep the face open and some cover everything! I cover my body and hair and I don’t think I am oppressed at all. I feel it gives me an individuality because it has made me make a place for myself with dignity, without compromising my value. People accept me for who I am and I never had to change myself to suit others. My values are given by family and my culture, not just religion.

If religion asks us to pray 5 times and we are praying times, what is wrong with that? Just because we are ‘following’ religion does not make us oppressed or weak. All our religions and cultures have left us with symbols, rituals and scriptures and if we choose to follow ours, it really is nobody’s business to judge us.

There are cases where girls are pushed to wear the hijab but there are also people like me who don’t find anything wrong with it. So why does everyone choose to listen to the ‘oppressed’ version but find it difficult to see the ‘empowered’ version? Problem is not with hijab, the problem is with the perspective of people that cannot accept it.

Like I told you, I can wear anything underneath my ‘cloak’ without worrying about what others will think and if I will fit in. I am more free than any woman in a mini-skirt can be! Men judge me for who I am not for my cleavage.

]]> By: LE http://www.bellbajao.org/2010/03/17/much-talk-about-hijab-still-a-sign-of-oppression/#comment-229 LE Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:39:49 +0000 http://bellbajao.org/?p=1907#comment-229 Am an erotica writer. Am a Muslim too. And have never felt the need to wear the hijab. Because I interpret my religion that way. If there is someone who interprets her religion in the way where she thinks hijab is a sign of modesty, let her. If religion can tell us to love one another, religion can tell us what to wear too. How much power religion has over us, is upto us! Am an erotica writer. Am a Muslim too. And have never felt the need to wear the hijab. Because I interpret my religion that way. If there is someone who interprets her religion in the way where she thinks hijab is a sign of modesty, let her.
If religion can tell us to love one another, religion can tell us what to wear too. How much power religion has over us, is upto us!

]]> By: Hawra Dawood http://www.bellbajao.org/2010/03/17/much-talk-about-hijab-still-a-sign-of-oppression/#comment-228 Hawra Dawood Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:59:43 +0000 http://bellbajao.org/?p=1907#comment-228 Well.. first of all .. i dont see a solid ground or any relevance at all to what you are saying about liberty and free will.. In my opinion .. there is no such thing as liberty.. We are all bound to certain things and cannot go out of that limit.. just like we are confined to the Earth's atmosphere and if we try to leave it we wont be able to survive.. Noone can say that I want to go and live on another planet because I am free to do so! then why should we emphasize on the liberty of clothing!! its just material covering our bodies.. you cannot be liberal with something like that.. for modesty is a universal term and noone says its a bad thing.. so how come putting a veil on the head or wearing a burqa is a symbol of oppression? why is it that nuns have to have to wear their clothing in a particular way .. which includes the covering of the head but is never called oppressed.. Hijab is a muslim women's religious symbol which represents modesty, dignity and demands respect altogether.. I am not saying that every women should wear it and even if she is against it should be forced to wear.. that is choice.. which is totally different from freedom and liberty.. a woman has a choice whether she accepts the hijab or rejects it.. there are many muslim women all around the globe who dont wear the hijab.. doesnt mean that they are against it.. maybe they are just not convinced with the idea of wearing something over the head to be modest.. everyone has a right to choose their religious beliefs.. they are responsible for it .. but at the same time once they are in the sphere of that particular religion.. they are bound by some rules and regulations.. not everything is "okay to do" How come christians never go to church wearing a tank top and a pair of shorts? that is because their is a particular dress code required for certain places.. just like when you go to a high end restaurant you cannot wear certain types of clothing.. does that mean that they are trying to be oppressive? same here goes for Islam and religion.. Hijab is a mere dress code which identifies muslims.. it doesnt make them stand out or make them look different .. its just the way it is.. its just like wearing jeans or a sari.. As to wondering if veiled women enjoy shopping .. oh yes they do!!!! its one of our favorite pass times.. and myself .. a muslim women who does wear the hijab with a black burqa or abaya.. waits every season for the new collections .. just like any non-hijab girls.. we combine and blend fashion with religion in a very subtle way.. so we can be in touch with our religious beliefs and at the same time look decent and elegant with whatever we wear.. we dont necessary have to show off our beauty to everyone! and thats the beauty of it.. why do you need to show it to someone else.. if this was about any other topic .. people would call it "insecurities" .. I think that i am very beautiful and am confident about it.. I dont need to show it off to everybody to make myself believe that I am pretty.. A woman's husband is the only one who can tell her how beautiful she is and what complements her.. so why should everyone else see it? We wear summer shades and overcoats and dress up .. burqa is not the only solution to covering ourselves up its just of the options infact we have an advantage.. if we wake up in the morning not in the mood to dress up .. we can just wear our jean and T-shirt.. tie our hair in an uneven knot and just wear our abaya(burqa) and hijab on top and we are ready to go! Well.. first of all .. i dont see a solid ground or any relevance at all to what you are saying about liberty and free will.. In my opinion .. there is no such thing as liberty.. We are all bound to certain things and cannot go out of that limit.. just like we are confined to the Earth’s atmosphere and if we try to leave it we wont be able to survive.. Noone can say that I want to go and live on another planet because I am free to do so! then why should we emphasize on the liberty of clothing!! its just material covering our bodies.. you cannot be liberal with something like that.. for modesty is a universal term and noone says its a bad thing.. so how come putting a veil on the head or wearing a burqa is a symbol of oppression? why is it that nuns have to have to wear their clothing in a particular way .. which includes the covering of the head but is never called oppressed.. Hijab is a muslim women’s religious symbol which represents modesty, dignity and demands respect altogether.. I am not saying that every women should wear it and even if she is against it should be forced to wear.. that is choice.. which is totally different from freedom and liberty.. a woman has a choice whether she accepts the hijab or rejects it.. there are many muslim women all around the globe who dont wear the hijab.. doesnt mean that they are against it.. maybe they are just not convinced with the idea of wearing something over the head to be modest.. everyone has a right to choose their religious beliefs.. they are responsible for it .. but at the same time once they are in the sphere of that particular religion.. they are bound by some rules and regulations.. not everything is “okay to do”
How come christians never go to church wearing a tank top and a pair of shorts? that is because their is a particular dress code required for certain places.. just like when you go to a high end restaurant you cannot wear certain types of clothing.. does that mean that they are trying to be oppressive? same here goes for Islam and religion.. Hijab is a mere dress code which identifies muslims.. it doesnt make them stand out or make them look different .. its just the way it is.. its just like wearing jeans or a sari..
As to wondering if veiled women enjoy shopping .. oh yes they do!!!! its one of our favorite pass times.. and myself .. a muslim women who does wear the hijab with a black burqa or abaya.. waits every season for the new collections .. just like any non-hijab girls.. we combine and blend fashion with religion in a very subtle way.. so we can be in touch with our religious beliefs and at the same time look decent and elegant with whatever we wear.. we dont necessary have to show off our beauty to everyone! and thats the beauty of it.. why do you need to show it to someone else.. if this was about any other topic .. people would call it “insecurities” .. I think that i am very beautiful and am confident about it.. I dont need to show it off to everybody to make myself believe that I am pretty.. A woman’s husband is the only one who can tell her how beautiful she is and what complements her.. so why should everyone else see it?
We wear summer shades and overcoats and dress up .. burqa is not the only solution to covering ourselves up its just of the options infact we have an advantage.. if we wake up in the morning not in the mood to dress up .. we can just wear our jean and T-shirt.. tie our hair in an uneven knot and just wear our abaya(burqa) and hijab on top and we are ready to go!

]]> By: Swagata http://www.bellbajao.org/2010/03/17/much-talk-about-hijab-still-a-sign-of-oppression/#comment-227 Swagata Thu, 18 Mar 2010 10:44:48 +0000 http://bellbajao.org/?p=1907#comment-227 I agree with the fact that everything that comes naturally to us is a result of some kind of conditioning by something outside our 'free will or choice'. Clothings, food habits especially are totally dependent on culture. Religion shapes and is shaped by culture. They are inseparable. A community cannot decide to adopt a 'secular' culture by rejecting all aspects of the culture that had a religious origin. What is required is to make them aware that they have the right to chose. That Muslim women are free to choose whether to wear a Hijab or not. Forcing women to wear a hijab is just as cruel and oppressive as barring them from wearing one. In the world we live in we cannot have simplistic versions of oppression vs choice, religious symbol vs secular symbol (fashion statements). How would you then categorize Keffiyeh, what has today become such a common style accessory for western kids had a totally different origin and so many meaning attached to it-military, Palestinian solidarity etc I agree with the fact that everything that comes naturally to us is a result of some kind of conditioning by something outside our ‘free will or choice’. Clothings, food habits especially are totally dependent on culture. Religion shapes and is shaped by culture. They are inseparable. A community cannot decide to adopt a ‘secular’ culture by rejecting all aspects of the culture that had a religious origin. What is required is to make them aware that they have the right to chose. That Muslim women are free to choose whether to wear a Hijab or not. Forcing women to wear a hijab is just as cruel and oppressive as barring them from wearing one. In the world we live in we cannot have simplistic versions of oppression vs choice, religious symbol vs secular symbol (fashion statements). How would you then categorize Keffiyeh, what has today become such a common style accessory for western kids had a totally different origin and so many meaning attached to it-military, Palestinian solidarity etc

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