Muslim Women in Western Culture
Muslim Women in Western Culture
SOC 315: Cross-Cultural Perspectives
April 24, 2011
Muslim Women in Western Culture Most people have seen a woman walking down the street or in a mall clad in what appears to be scarves wrapped around her head, covering her hair, ears, and neck. In some situations these women even have a veil covering up most of their face. This is becoming a common occurrence in the United States as the Islamic population grows. Some may view this as a way to make these women subservient, making it seem like they don’t have an identity or a voice. This leaves many to wonder why they would wear such a thing in modern America where women are treated as equals and do have a voice. The truth behind the headscarf does not lie in male dominance or view of women being less of a person, but in fact a choice these women are making based solely on tradition and religion. The foundation of the headscarf, also known as hijab, lies in the interpretation of the Qur’an. While there has been past evidence of woman being suppressed in Islam, that is not the reasoning behind hijab. Many verses in the Qur’an talk about women covering up, and for a Muslim woman choosing to hijab this is where she takes her direction. Surah An-Nur (24:31) says women “should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband 's fathers, their sons... or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex." Another more direct verse is Surah Al-Ahzab (33:59): "O Prophet!
Tell thy wives and daughters and the believing women that they should cast their outer garments over their persons [when abroad]: that is most convenient that they should be known [as such] and not molested: and Allah is Oftforgiving, most merciful." To Muslim women verses such as these are, in their minds, Allah telling them how he believes they should dress which clearly is modest and covered (Ali, 2005).
Outside of the strictly
SOC 315: Cross-Cultural Perspectives
April 24, 2011
Muslim Women in Western Culture Most people have seen a woman walking down the street or in a mall clad in what appears to be scarves wrapped around her head, covering her hair, ears, and neck. In some situations these women even have a veil covering up most of their face. This is becoming a common occurrence in the United States as the Islamic population grows. Some may view this as a way to make these women subservient, making it seem like they don’t have an identity or a voice. This leaves many to wonder why they would wear such a thing in modern America where women are treated as equals and do have a voice. The truth behind the headscarf does not lie in male dominance or view of women being less of a person, but in fact a choice these women are making based solely on tradition and religion. The foundation of the headscarf, also known as hijab, lies in the interpretation of the Qur’an. While there has been past evidence of woman being suppressed in Islam, that is not the reasoning behind hijab. Many verses in the Qur’an talk about women covering up, and for a Muslim woman choosing to hijab this is where she takes her direction. Surah An-Nur (24:31) says women “should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband 's fathers, their sons... or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex." Another more direct verse is Surah Al-Ahzab (33:59): "O Prophet!
Tell thy wives and daughters and the believing women that they should cast their outer garments over their persons [when abroad]: that is most convenient that they should be known [as such] and not molested: and Allah is Oftforgiving, most merciful." To Muslim women verses such as these are, in their minds, Allah telling them how he believes they should dress which clearly is modest and covered (Ali, 2005).
Outside of the strictly
References: Ali, S. (2005). Why Here, Why Now? Young Muslim Women Wearing Hijāb. Muslim World, 95(4), 515-530. Retrieved from EBSCOhost Bilsky, L. (2009). Muslim headscarves in France and army uniforms in Israel: a comparative study of citizenship as mask. Patterns of Prejudice, 43(3/4), 287-311. doi:10.1080/00313220903109193 Rana, A. (2007). On being a Muslim woman. Intercultural Education, 18(2), 169-175. doi:10.1080/14675980701327304 Seggie, F., & Sanford, G. (2010). Perceptions of female Muslim students who veil: campus religious climate. Race, Ethnicity & Education, 13(1), 59-82. doi:10.1080/13613320903549701 Williams, R. H., & Vashi, G. (2007). Hijab and American Muslim Women: Creating the Space for Autonomous Selves. Sociology of Religion, 68(3), 269-287. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.