Talkin' Fashion

Hijab /hijab/

Noun:

1) A head covering worn in public by some Muslim women

2) A religious code the governs the wearing of such clothing

My friend recently began to wear the Hijab. It was an extremely personal decision, one that she put much thought and prayer into. Talking to her about her choice, I was confronted with the many misconceptions people have about the veil. So on this lovely Friday afternoon, I will blog the following:

Myths about the Hijab:

It is forced upon women.

            Never, not once, have I met a hijabed women who said her parents/father forced her to wear the veil. I have talked to Kamal, the father of a nine-year-old girl. He stated he would never force his daughter to veil. He was much more concerned with her upbringing than with what she would wear on her head.

The only way to wear the veil is the “traditional” way.

            Here there is a girl here who wears not a scarf, but a beanie cap that she put all her hair into. It is her form of Hijab. My friend I mentioned earlier wears it with her bangs showing.

Wearing a Hijab doesn’t mean a woman is always conservative.

            Just as a girls purity ring doesn’t mean she will save sex until marriage, hijab doesn’t always equal “purity”. My roommate and I were discussing girls that wear Hijab, tight pants and cleavage-bearing tops. I have witnessed girls in Hijbas drinking in clubs.

A Hijab in not a Burka.

            The Hijab is simply the scarf. Although in Morocco you do see women fully covered, with only their eyes showing, that is not technically a hijab. It is much more common to see them with the scarf and conservative western-style clothes, or a scarf and a Jellba.

Ultimately to veil is a personal choice, and really gets far more attention than it deserves. People don't debate about a Christians right to wear a cross or rosemary around their neck. Why should the Hijab be different? For more myths and funny stuff you can watch this video. This girl is adorable and hilarious.