Why Muslim Women Cover?

In my last post, I cited a quote from a study done by Rachel Droogsma. Droogsma interviewed 13 Muslim women who currently reside in the United States. All of these women continue to wear a veil and Droogsma has interviewed each one about why they still continue to veil. Here are the reasons found in Droogsma’s study: Defines Muslim Identity, Behavior Check, Resists Objectification/Sexual Exploitation, Affords More Respect, Preserves Intimate Relationships, and as a Source of Freedom.

            First and foremost, the hijab functions as a visable marker of one’s identity as a Muslim (Droogsma, 301). It is a sure way to identify a woman as a Muslim without  needing to seek out further information. This can be a very powerful step in becoming Muslim, if one isn’t already. A sure way to feel connected with other Muslim women and instantly get respect from the community is to wear a veil, this is especially important if someone is converting to Muslim. Sadiyyah, a Muslim woman from the study, feels that one of the most important functions of the hijab is in connecting her to other Muslim women (Droogsma, 302).

            The next function of the hijab discussed by the Muslim women was that it serves as a behavior check. It functions as a reminder to the women to guard their behavior so that their lives please God (304). "It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His messenger have decreed a matter that they should have an option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), has indeed strayed in a plain error." (Qur’an 33:36). Amaraah, a woman from the study, noted that options for someone to “misbehave” are not presented to a woman who wears hijab. She states, “Nobody’s ever offered me drugs, nobody’s ever offered me a drink…” (Droogsma, 304).

            One of the most important functions of hijab is that is resists objectification. Tasha, another woman from the study, states, “My whole body is private, not just a few parts… I see [hijab] as God saying: “You’re beautiful, don’t let those men look at you like they shouldn’t be looking at you (305).” Many women find that wearing the hijab gives men the impression that they aren’t allowed to look at their body and they see it as a way to control their body. Instead of getting checked out, like American women, Muslim women are noticed for their personality and intelligence. Women believe the hijab allows people to see them as a person and allows women to remove their physical appearance from the interaction (305). Muslim women believe the veil functions as a protection against unwanted attention and, thus, feel wearing it provides them with great power over their bodies (306).

            Another function of hijab is that it affords more respect. Muslim women feel that they receive more respect from both Muslim and non-Muslim men because of the veil (307). A woman in the study, Taqiyyah, noted that all people tend to treat her with more respect because she covers and indeed must learn her “rules” in order to interact with her (307). After 9/11, the Muslim women in the study noted a change of respect. One of the women, Amaraah, said “there is no respect for the scarf (308).”

            The women in the study also found that the hijab maintains healthy boundaries, thus defining and protecting their intimate relationships (308). One of the main benefits the women in the study discovered after marrying relates to the hijab’s role in saving their beauty for their husbands (309). The Muslim women also feel that it helps them stay more connected with their family. Only close family members and husbands can see Muslim women without the hijab. One of the women in the study feels that the hijab makes things more human (309). The hijab allows women to treasure their bodies and share it only with those persons to whom she grants access (310).

            The hijab is also a source of freedom for Muslim women. Many feminists may have a problem seeing this as a function of the hijab since they see hijab as a sign of oppression. Suzan, a woman from the study, described hijab as providing her with freedom from conforming to fashion standards in American society that exploit women (310). Young women in the United States spend so much time buying the newest fashions, making sure they have all the name brand clothing, and shudder and the thought of buying anything not from a designer. As a young Muslim girl, they don’t have that problem. Their clothing will never be the source of bullying among young girls.

            The hijab has many different functions and serves a different function for each and every Muslim woman. When Americans think of Muslim women, all they can think about is the fact that we need to “save” them from being oppressed by Muslim men. That’s not the case at all. If anything, we can learn from the way they dress and take notes.

           

Bibliography

Droogsma is cited in my previous blog

Qur’an