Why do people find the hijab (cover) so offensive?

Question

I am an American woman, born and bred in the US. I converted to Islam 10 years ago. I wear hijab and and am a proud American and a proud Muslim. I was recently spit at and called a whore by a complete stranger at the grocery store. This man did not know me, I was not stating my belief or position, yet he felt strongly enough to spit at me and call me names. Why is it that in American, we claim to be tolerant of everyone, but in reality, we isolate and judge eachother

This is not the first time I have been treated in this manner...I am not clumping all Americans in this catagory, but in my experience, a large group does find my personal choice to wear hijab offensive

Answer 1

The man who spit at you was a hateful fool. I certainly won't make excuses for what he did. Had I been there, I probably would have decked him. For myself, the first thing I think of when I see the hijab is the repression of women, something that existed for far too long here in the U.S. and against which many, many women (and men) have had to struggle to overcome (and still do). I have no problem with any woman wearing the hijab who chooses to do so. Free will is good, and I strongly believe in religious freedom. But it saddens me to think that women have to endure being covered up because a certain religion apparently feels that men cannot control their lustful urges. As a man, I know that is not true. Men do not have to act like brutes just because a woman's body is not covered with cloth.

Short answer: it represents repression for women, something we've worked hard to overcome in this country. But that's a mental impression. It certainly doesn't mean that I would spit at a woman who wears one. That makes no sense to me at all.

Answer 2

The reason is simple. Because it identifies you as a muslim, a person of the islamic faith. This religion islam is responsible for almost ALL acts of terrorism WORLDWIDE. Remember the islamic prayer of fear. "Allahu Akbar!", that's what they shout everytime they blow themselves up. Allah is great! Booomb! Islam is their prime motivation to commit such atrocities.

These acts don't just happen in Iraq. They also happen in
India and the Sudan and Algeria and Afghanistan and New York and Pakistan and Israel and Russia and Chechnya and the Philippines and Indonesia and Nigeria and England and Thailand and Spain and Egypt and Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia and Ingushetia and Dagestan and Turkey and Kabardino-Balkaria and Morocco and Yemen and Lebanon and France and Uzbekistan and Gaza and Tunisia and Kosovo and Bosnia and Mauritania and Kenya and Eritrea and Syria and Somalia and California and Argentina and Kuwait and Virginia and Ethiopia and Iran and Jordan and United Arab Emirates and Louisiana and Texas and Tanzania and Germany and Australia and Pennsylvania and Belgium and Denmark and East Timor and Qatar and Maryland and Tajikistan and the Netherlands and Scotland and Chad and Canada and China and...

...and pretty much wherever Muslims believe their religion tells them to:

"Fight against those who (1) believe not in Allâh, (2) nor in the Last Day, (3) nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allâh and His Messenger (4) and those who acknowledge not the religion of truth (i.e. Islâm) among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), until they pay the Jizyah[special tax] with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued."

Qur'an, Sura 9:29

So although you are a very tolerant person and probably don't follow the islam of Muhammad, the islam that is most commonly practised throughout the middle-east, you will still be associated with them, I'm sorry to say.

Answer 3

wearing hijab with short sleeves shirt would be wrong if you search to break a norm . another one: girls in my college wear tight clothes with a scarf and call it hijab which is false . should be a learning experiment ;) girls do look good in hijab. it might cover up the good but it also covers the bad too :P ok that last joke was uncalled for.

Answer 4

Honey, I am SO sorry!

I'm Pagan, and a few months ago, I was harassed because I had a scarf over my head. It was cold and my hair was damp from swimming and showering. But at least I wasn't spit at like you.

I'd have gone to the store manager and asked to have that man kicked out for assaulting you. (Spitting is assault.) Personally, I don't find it offensive. I do think the face cover is unfriendly in America, but hair cover? We women can have anything on our heads here, so what's wrong with a scarf?

Answer 5

I have Muslim women acquaintances. Each has hide the bruises of being beat behind the hajab ... so, when I see "it" I associate it with "Wife Beating" which ... I know, I know Western men do this too ... but I've never first hand meet a Western woman who was beat (only seen on TV) ... however, each Muslim woman I've meet has been --- the hijab just makes me more suspicious since they used it to veil their husbands sins.

Answer 6

They don't understand why you wear it. It's like seeing a jewish guy wearing a yarmulka or a sikh wearing a turban. When I see a lady wearing a hijab or a chador, I know they're muslim, but I don't feel any animosity.

Answer 7

I don't think it's the actual clothing that is offensive.
I think it's the fact that many women are forced to adopt such dress under threat of violence.
That should be intolerable to anyone, no matter what their religion is.
We are all aware that not all of Islam has such rules, but many, many do, and that's what people resent.

Answer 8

That man was an idiot. But you certainly cant say that America is the only country to have crazy & hateful people. Are there no hate crimes in Muslim countries? Are there no American hating Muslims? Puleeease!

Answer 9

This man carried a Satan task to insult you so that you get upset and angry and this way you'd work for Satan too. There is nothing wrong with hi jab and most people have respect towards it. It is a test for you when you see someone hates you for wearing a hi jab.

Answer 10

Wearing a shroud IS stating your belief and position. If you see someone wearing a Rosary - what faith do you think the person is?