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Naheed Mustafa's Essay 'My Body Is My Own Business'

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Naheed Mustafa's Essay 'My Body Is My Own Business'
“My Body is My Own Business”

In the article “My Body is My Own Business” by Naheed Mustafa we are introduced to the stereotypes and prejudices that Muslim people in our country are subject to. Mustafa’s everyday life consists of stereotypes because of her decision to wear the hijab. Mustafa goes on to talk about what covering up her body means to herself and her reasons for doing so. There are many problems in society today with teen girls thinking that they will earn respect form people by wearing certain clothing, and that their worth is proportional to their attractiveness. The definition of beauty is ever-changing and that true equality will come when woman no longer have to use their bodies to get attention.

The essay is centered around the idea that women who wear the hijab are in control of their …show more content…
Some women think that they will get respect by wearing provocative clothing; undoubtedly they are misunderstood, in my opinion no one will respect a women that is half naked. Mustafa is the voice for all Muslim girls living in Canada who wear the hijab and feel the need to defend their position to cover up their bodies. Mustafa demonstrates her own thoughts stating, “I often wonder whether people see me as a radical, fundamentalist Muslim terrorist packing an AK-47? This quote shows the true pain that the Muslim girls who choose to wear the hijab face in this country. Westerners still till this day are weirder out by people wearing foreign clothing, and dressing a certain way. I can personally relate to Mustafa because I used to have a turban six years ago, and people use to look at me a certain way. I did not get the same respect wearing my turban that other children got by having short hair. Being such a multi-cultural country with such diverse groups of people, foreign should not be subject to such disrespect, and
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