Columnist challenges women to wear hijab for a day
Shirien Elmasraya
Issue date: 4/4/08 Section: Opinion
Ever wonder what it's like for women that wear hijab - or the head scarf? I certainly get some crazy questions sometimes.
"Do you take a shower with that on?" is pretty common.
And so is, "Do you wear that because you're bald?"
That one's my favorite.
I certainly don't mind the questions, and I am happy to answer them whenever I get them. But, now it's your turn. I challenge the women on this campus to walk a day in my shoes.
I challenge women to wear hijab for a whole day on April 25, 2008 and then talk about the experience afterward.
Whether you think Muslim women are oppressed or whether you respect the hijab, you all have something to gain from the experience.
I have to admit, the idea wasn't really my own. Montclair State University's Muslim Students Association recently sponsored the same type of event.
The idea was to get girls to wear hijab, show them how to wear it for a day and at the end of the day, come together and discuss their experiences.
Muslim women wear the hijab because it is a commandment of Allah, or God, in the Quran. And since Muslims believe the purpose of life is to worship the creator alone, they must follow all the commandments in the Quran, and who better to tell a person what's good or bad for them than the one who created them?
The hijab also protects women.
"I remember one girl who was enthralled by the entire experience and saw it more as something that strengthened the bond between women more so than for religion itself. I just thought that was a really interesting observation on her part," said MSU English student Hafsa Khan.
So here are the rules of the game, so to speak:
1. Women must wear the hijab in front of all men not related to them. The only men that women are allowed to uncover in front of are their fathers, brothers, uncles, grandfathers, sons, nephews and husbands. Sorry girls, boyfriends don't count.
2. A woman may remove her hijab in front of other women, provided there are no unrelated men around.
"Do you take a shower with that on?" is pretty common.
And so is, "Do you wear that because you're bald?"
That one's my favorite.
I certainly don't mind the questions, and I am happy to answer them whenever I get them. But, now it's your turn. I challenge the women on this campus to walk a day in my shoes.
I challenge women to wear hijab for a whole day on April 25, 2008 and then talk about the experience afterward.
Whether you think Muslim women are oppressed or whether you respect the hijab, you all have something to gain from the experience.
I have to admit, the idea wasn't really my own. Montclair State University's Muslim Students Association recently sponsored the same type of event.
The idea was to get girls to wear hijab, show them how to wear it for a day and at the end of the day, come together and discuss their experiences.
Muslim women wear the hijab because it is a commandment of Allah, or God, in the Quran. And since Muslims believe the purpose of life is to worship the creator alone, they must follow all the commandments in the Quran, and who better to tell a person what's good or bad for them than the one who created them?
The hijab also protects women.
"I remember one girl who was enthralled by the entire experience and saw it more as something that strengthened the bond between women more so than for religion itself. I just thought that was a really interesting observation on her part," said MSU English student Hafsa Khan.
So here are the rules of the game, so to speak:
1. Women must wear the hijab in front of all men not related to them. The only men that women are allowed to uncover in front of are their fathers, brothers, uncles, grandfathers, sons, nephews and husbands. Sorry girls, boyfriends don't count.
2. A woman may remove her hijab in front of other women, provided there are no unrelated men around.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 55
Maryam
posted 4/04/08 @ 9:03 AM CST
I often have a black eye from where my husband has hit me (I find it difficult to please him) but like you, I often get some into some hilarious situations when people ask me about it! "Are you a boxer?", they say. (Continued…)
Tim
posted 4/04/08 @ 10:05 AM CST
Hey Shirien,
"I went through the drive-through at Taco Bell a couple of weeks ago. The man at the register looked like he wanted to ask me something but didn't know how to ask it. (Continued…)
Timmy the Dummy
posted 4/04/08 @ 11:01 AM CST
Dear Dummy (see "Tim" above),
Have you ever considered getting a life? While you're at it, look for a spine too. Maybe there's a good two-for-one deal somewhere. (Continued…)
JSH
posted 4/04/08 @ 12:14 PM CST
I challenge you to dress as a western woman for a day. You just may find that the ideas that you have been taught, that women are ogled or lusted over is not the norm. (Continued…)
dendenizen
posted 4/04/08 @ 12:16 PM CST
"Muslim women wear the hijab because it is a commandment of Allah, or God, in the Quran."
And yet there are many Muslims who say that taking the hijab is a free choice of muslimas. (Continued…)
alla is NO G-d
posted 4/04/08 @ 12:47 PM CST
I challenge the burka-babe to work at a bikin car wash or in a strip club for a day. This is STILL America and not SOWdi Barbaria here!
You need to show some manners and ACT LIKE THE LOCALS!!
We cannot even bring the Torah or the Bible into SOWdi Barbaria!!
I am SICK of the hypocrisy!!
sk
posted 4/04/08 @ 12:48 PM CST
Yes, the hijab has protected me many times. Why just last week my sister, who refuses to wear it, was (rightly) honor killed for being seen kissing a Jew!
Kristin
posted 4/04/08 @ 12:52 PM CST
I find it incredibly sad, but not at all surprising, that Shirien's peaceful attempt to promote understanding of another culture is met with disdain and mockery. (Continued…)
Amanda
posted 4/04/08 @ 2:38 PM CST
Shirien do you ever feel silly writing your simple column, basically a rehashing of last week's, the week before's, etc. and look UP on the page of the Reveille and read the great article Skylar Gremillion wrote? Do you ever feel like maybe you got your job out of pity instead of being actually qualified? Your article pales in comparison to the other op/eds. (Continued…)
Jessica
posted 4/04/08 @ 3:10 PM CST
Shirien,
In your column, you said that Muslim women wear the hajib because it is a commandment from God. You say that it brings women closer together. (Continued…)
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