By At a time when hate crimes against Muslims continue to rise and global terrorism falsely associated with Islam continues to propagate more fear and insecurity, it’s hard to see any symbol of true Islam on television — except for very recently when Trevor Noah hosted the first hijab-wearing Muslimah, Dalia Mogahed, on the Daily Show, to discuss the climate for Muslims in America.
Mogahed, a Director of Research at the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, and a well-known commentator on Muslim-American issues, gracefully explained and supported her claims with facts conducted by research she led herself.
The segment, subtly infused with humor to lighten the very serious topic, is a must-watch.
Haha! She knows her sarcasm
I’m so fed up with justifications of the hijab that shit on other women being portrayed as progressive or feminist. Hijab “privatizes” a woman’s sexuality? Is my (non hijab wearing) sexuality on public display – am I some kind of slut that’s for sale? Besides that, there’s plenty of nonmarried women that have sex and wear the hijab.
Other fun examples in this area include, “my hijab allows me to be judged by the content of my character rather than my outward appearance!!” Because, you know, women who don’t wear hijab deserve to be judged by their appearance, and god forbid that we actually try to challenge those social norms instead of just trying to place ourselves above other women.
Religious justifications are fine, but whenever it gets to “hijab is a feminist statement” it’s always just sexism.
Girl I feel ya. As a former hijabi, I get it. Some points I do like though are that hijab is a symbol of counterculture in a globalized, Westernized world. It can say “I know you want me to show more skin, flaunt it, follow the newest trends, whatever–but I won’t because I don’t want to :)” and that is very powerful and one of the things I miss most.
That’s fair.
m1r7, three things:
1. In my experience, it’s mostly celebrities and rebellious teens who “show more skin” and follow the newest trends. It’s not Western culture, per se.
2. Western culture is the most progressive and it’s the most protective of individuals. Individuals are the smallest minority and need as much protection as we can get. Societies that don’t have this value are hostile places to live. So why not embrace the excellent aspects of the West and tailor them to your own culture rather than this knee-jerk anti-Western stance that I so often hear coming out of the mouths of Muslims?
3. There are so many ways to be “counterculture”. I’m somewhat counterculture myself, being a graphic designer. I have my own distinct style. I show very little skin, mostly because I dress appropriately for my large size. I get a lot of compliments on my appearance–I’m tasteful and funky at the same time. There are ways and means besides declaring to the world that you’re Muslim and hate Western culture. Hate is not good.
So, empower yourself the way I do. Don’t follow the crowd. Create your own great, tasteful style and maybe others will follow you/us.
Hello again! I just saw your comment above, and I am very grateful for an opportunity for civilized dialogue in which we both can learn and share perspectives 🙂
My response to your three things:
1. The term “Western culture” is totally a catch-all, as is Eastern culture I would posit. So your point is very fair. However, we can gain insight into the perspective of the dominant culture of the times by analyzing media (artwork, articles, books, movies, news, etc.). These are cultural artifacts, as we say in sociology/ethnic studies/anthropology and so on. Mainstream is simultaneously what defines culture and what is defined by culture. We both teach the media what we want to portray and the messages we want in the world, and we receive and learn how to behave and navigate the society through media. For example, 30 years ago, short shorts were not a thing. Now, it is very difficult to purchase shorts that go past the knee within women’s wardrobe. I think it is people expressing the desire to wear this, designers responding, famous people picking up on the trends, people following the trends, and designers responding to the acceptance and demand for the product (or variations on this). The current trend within the Western world is to show more and more skin compared to many Eastern cultures.
2. I think it is very Eurocentric to claim that Western culture is the most progressive and cares the most about the individual, and ignore the multitude of cultures that are tribe-based and value the individual’s input on a personal level. I doubt that you or I have experienced living in every society void of Western culture (if any still exist post-colonialism, imperialism, neo-colonialism, and globalization), so it would be ignorant to claim so much of the world as possessing a hostile environment. How about we embrace what we consider good and progressive within every culture and subculture? Why does learning and embracing have to be a one-way street that is often imposed forcefully, either overtly or covertly? This forceful imposition of Western culture than the world as a whole really has experienced may be the root of this knee-jerk reaction you speak of. Examples include U.S. support for Saddam Hussein followed by the subsequent invasion of Iraq by the U.S., or the U.S. and British 1953 coup d’etat of the democratically elected Prime Minister of Iran, Dr. Mohammad Mossadegh (for starters).
3. There are many ways to be counterculture. I never said this is the way or the only way, I was only explaining one motivation that I personally experienced when I chose to wear hijab. You sound very hip and chic and cool, btw.
Most people are not Muslim in order to hate the West or because they hate the West. To think so is ignorant, and in fact, hateful. The widespread hatred of Muslims found in many Western societies is also bad, is it not? Hateful attitudes are sometimes a response to be the recipients of blind hatred that many Muslims experience, not to condone hate, but just to explain the origin and that it’s not out of the blue.
If I were to follow your example by empowering myself how you do, I would be following the crowd, the crowd of people that includes you or the crowd of people you lead yourself. Why can’t I empower myself the way I want to?
Wassalam (Peaceeee),
m1r7
I’ve watched this a couple of times (among so many other lectures and articles) and I don’t think the point of “privatizing” sexuality says anything against anyone who chooses not to wear hijab or is of a different belief. It’s seems to me that by pointing it out in that way she is asking what is the socially perceived view of women’s power? If you take that question on it brings up the whole social ideals of youth and beauty and sexuality as the main values that determine a woman’s worth regardless of her other contributions.
Wearing hijab or not we are all judged on our appearance and it’s good to be aware of what we are saying about ourselves. Just like the saying “dress for the job you want not the job you have”. Is it right to assume the woman showing a lot of skin is any more likely to have casual or pre-marrital sex or is less intelligent or worthy of respect as a person than one who’s more covered up? Nope. Is that the society we live in? Yep. Is it human? Yep. We judge. Those of us aware of our own faults and judgments will think it then drop it as silly first impression and get to know people for who they are regardless of outer appearance. Sadly not everyone is that self aware.
If you want to think of how female sexuality relates to power just look at Miley Cyrus! You can’t deny she’s a powerful force in pop culture and has used her appearance to garner publicity. Despite the fact that she’s a tremendously talented singer she would not be as wealthy or in the public eye without the way she portrays herself. I don’t think hijab is feminist or nudity is feminist exclusive of one another, the freedom to choose what form of feminism suits you is.
Louise, you seem like a lovely, smart person.
So explain this to me from your perspective. How is a Muslim woman covering her hair being a feminist? Do Muslim men cover their hair to privatize their sexuality–if at all? How is a woman’s hair more sexual than a man’s. We know that balding men are rarely sex symbols, right? How much credibility can there be to the idea that hair is like genitalia so if uncovered, it makes your sexuality public? This is the only conclusion that can be drawn if privatizing sexuality includes covering your hair, right? You can’t speak about light without understanding that there’s shadow. “Privatizing sexuality” means nothing if there’s no opposite concept.
I suggest to you that the real reason most Western Muslim women wear the hijab has to do with identity politics and/or hatred of the West.
Just a few points:
-hijab is not just covering your hair, it is primarily covering your entire body in not-so-form-fitting attire
-it is not just a garment, it is the decision to accept a certain lifestyle: the one of a religious, practicing Muslim woman that acts a certain way and does certain things
-wearing hijab is to constantly be aware of your actions as you have at least tacitly accepted to represent an entire religion, akin to a Jewish man in Kippah or nun entering a convent even
-all this being said, many if not most to not always adhere or even believe in these principles even among hijabis
-feminism is the radical notion that women are people
-being a feminist is different and unique to every single woman (I won’t get into feminist men/allies for the sake of simplicity…and I have homework to get back to :P)
-to choose your own garb is to have power over your body, therefore, a woman choosing to wear hijab is 100% a feminist statement
-Muslim women wear hijab because they believe it is fard or wajib (required, obligatory) for them as ordained by God. This is just for women, while men have other instructions from God, from the Islamic point of view. Personally, the way I see it is that Islam is more about equity than equality, as gender differentiation is not seen as bad as it is within traditional Western feminism
-I would counter with every single advertisement featuring a woman to answer your question as to how a woman’s hair is sexualized
-genitalia is far from the only thing sexualized as it is. If it were, we would all only clothe the vagina (and vulva) and the penis, but this is not the case in most societies. What is your response to why this happens?
-there is an opposite concept to privatizing sexuality. It is publicizing it, as the example of Miley Cyrus truly suits this definition, as does sex work and many other things
-I assure you that most Western Muslim women actually really love the West. Like, *really* love it. There are many, many studies done to support this claim. It is really because of my former point, believing that this is, as Dalia Mogahed said, an act of devotion to God. As for the identity politics, well, identity is a part of everything, isn’t it?
-side note: I wore it and now I don’t, for some context to my perspective
Dalia Mogahed supports Sharia as good for women. Do you agree? Dalia Mogahed supports theocracy. Do you?
Wearing Hijab would be fine if it really was a woman’s choice but in many Islamic dominated cultures it is not. Clerics who are men and a religion who’s rules are made up by men often make women do it. Isis is enforcing hijab as does Saudi Arabia and other places. No it is often a garment of oppression and control in many places. That is the problem I have with it.
I wanna ask three question to lady – 1) How a particular way of dressing can be related to showing respect to God. 2) Why showing respect to God even required? 3) Can showing respect be optional, can she choose not to show respect through her dress on one particular day?