How do you see hijab?

Question

Ok so we know that muslim women wearing the hijab in the west wear it by choice . But there are still some islamic countries that have made laws enforcing hijab. I saw a question about a British woman forced to wear hijab in Iran and everyone saw that as degrading to her. Someone answered that the iranian women should be forced to wear bikinis and photographed like that. The whole point of the anger people were feeling was that the woman was forced to do something she did not want to and they felt the cloth on her head was a sign of submission to the men. But what is worst forcing a woman to cover or forcing her to uncover?

And before you answer I want to tell you that hijab in islam doesn’t mean oppression, submission, or control over women but is a way to protect them. Why do they need that protection? Why cant men control themselves instead? Those are valid points. You need to understand that men in islam are also asked to wear modest clothing, they are not allowed to stare at women or anything else. Not all men follow these rules and yet ask women to cover, and blaming everything on the women. But this is not part of islam; it is part of culture. There are many Islamic countries that do not have laws forcing hijab. The point of my question is not to focus on those men who pick and chose what to follow about their religion.

I just want to know why you think it is so oppressive and why do you see even women who wear it by choice as being oppressed. Also if you think it is oppressive, do you think forcing someone to wear clothes is also oppressive? There are some cultures where even not covering your head makes people uncomfortable and then there are others that have no problem in even leaving off clothes. Isn’t it ethnocentric to judge either?

I’m sorry the question is so long……Please if you are going to answer, do not be disrespectful. Thank you

Islam does not require women to cover their faces and hijab does not have to be black.

Female genital mutilation is also not part of islam!! see this for more info http://www.religioustolerance.org/fem_circ.htm

I do understand Rana. I am muslim and wear hijab by choice

Chris-- I agree that they should not have forced her to wear it. I only wanted to point out that there intentions were not impure

Persian you did not read my question correctly. This is the question I was referring to:
http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ApxW3wKfLskPd9aZ2mjf.m7h5gt.?qid=20070330182934AAhdJYK&show=7#profile-info-BaZJlSKfaa
The comment is near the bottom. I am a muslim myself. I do not eat pork. and dont call me a b****

Answer 1

I do not see the hijab as oppressive, any more than I see wearing clothes oppressive. We are not allowed to go naked in my country, and if someone does not want to wear clothes, that's too bad, they have to anyway! I think it is up to that country to decide what it considers proper to leave uncovered and not.

It is worse to force a woman to uncover her head than to force her to cover her head. The hijab is her religious right and this must be protected.

Answer 2

Well, I think that the british women shouldn't have been forced to wear higab, but it's for her own protection. Now it is obviously ok to force somebody to cover than to force someone to uncover, because forcing to uncover is like rape.

Now, just to add some info here; hijab isnt the name of the piece that the women usus to cover her hair. It translates to "cover". And this cover isnt just for women, its also for muslim men. For muslim men, their hijab is from the belly button, to the knees. Women's cover is yes more.

I agree that men should get a grip of themselves, and also control themselves, but there are lots of differences between the psychology of a woman, and that of a man.

Think of the action in Iran as applying the rules of a "dress code". You would never see a dress code asking to uncover a certain area in the body. Even though i think she isn't supposed to be forced to do so. I think Iran, and the city "Mecca" are the only places in middle east where women have to wear the hijab.

But i think I have the right to walk on a street without seeing a naked women. I know this is the other extreme, so we should balance these two extremes in terms of forcing others to follow a dress code.

I hope this answers your question!

Answer 3

Just because one country violates a womans rights does not give another country the right to do the same.

angeltress, like usual, dodges the question and uses the answer to spread a rumor that she heard from a friend of a friend of friend...
Find a new lie, angeltress. Female castration is not an Islamic religious concept, nor is it an Islamic cultural concept. It the sick invention of some sick men.
Just because your man left you, does not mean that Muslim husbands don't treat their wives with respect and honor.

My wife wears the hijab by choice when we are in crowded areas. She usually does not wear it when there are not a lot of people around.
She says she will wear it (and the burqa) when she comes to America. I told her that the choice is hers 100%, and that I would support any decision she makes 100%.

Answer 4

well, i think a womans body is a lot more sexual than a man's. think about it: hair, boobs, waist, butt, legs. i actually kind of think it's a sign of respect to have a woman covered up, so that men do not look at her as a sexual object. i feel like women have become very confused about what female empowerment is. showing off your body and sleeping around is not it! i mean, i do not wear a hijab because it is not part of my culture, but i would be honored to wear one if i were in a country where it was. if anything, it is just a sign of respect for the culture. however, i don't think someone should be forced to wear one. if people want to wear clothes that are not obnoxious/too revealing...why not?

Answer 5

I see the hijab as head covering worn by muslim women. It is a part of their religion and culture. I don't think they should be forced to uncover in the west (especially atheistic Europe). I'd like to see more freedom of religious expression.

I don't think it is right to force hijab on others, especially on captives who have been taken for propaganda purposes and on bogus charges that are only a way for Iran to try to force a trade for their operatives that were clearly in Iraq.

Answer 6

I think, to be honest, if the woman wants to wear it, then it would be worse forcing her to uncover her head... however my sister, feels offended by the Muslim women wearing the hijab, I personally dont have a problem with it, just so long as i dont have to wear it...

Answer 7

Salaam,

I am Muslim, born & raised Muslim,and I dont wear hijab--By Choice. I respect my sisters who choose to wear hijab--and I do think hijab is very beautful. But I do wish that Muslim women who do wear hijab would respect us Muslim women who choose not wear it. Hijab does not mean piety, --as Allah says "Truly, the best clothing is that of Righteousness".

Allah also says "there is No Compulsion in Religion". No country should force women to wear hijab. That is violating our rights to choose.

PS--"PERSIAN" NEEDS TO BE TAKEN IN THE STREETS AND WHIPPED FOR CURSING AT A MUSLIM WOMAN LIKE THAT, AND HE'S SOPPOSED TO BE MUSLIM!
...YO MOMMA--PERSIA!

Answer 8

It's hard issue. I don't think Hijab is either an oppression or submission to the men but it is a submission to God.
I think Muslim women should choose their clothes and not be forced to do it.
I'm not Muslim but Christian. so, I don't understand very well about Hijab.

Answer 9

assalam alikom my sister....your have a really good point... but people are missing something..when we tell a British woman(or any non-Muslim) woman to put a cover on her hair in countries like Iran,we don't humiliate her and she doesn't lose her dignity,and she doesn't commit a sin in her religion,on the other hand forcing a veiled woman to wear a bikini,you're forcing her to expose parts of her body that are forbidden to expose that's violation and hurting someone.....you know what i mean...

Answer 10

Paul gave those very same instructions to Christian women--to wear a veil covering their head,never wear jewelery, never curl their hair-& always dress "modestly".Christianity just outgrew it.