What is the difference between Muslim women wearing the Hijab and Catholic nuns wearing the Habit today?

Question

Why are they worn in the first place? Is it to show that men are superior in some way? If not, why don't men wear the hijab or habit?

In various cultures, it is quite acceptable for a man to wear a skirt: Scotland, England, etc.

Why are men who make their women wear these coverings not themselves made to do the same so as not to temp other women?

My experience and observation:
I was at an estate sale recently and a Muslim family came there - the husband, wife and 3 young boys. The father and boys were dressed like any other American. Only the woman was in the hijab.

It was a very hot day and the mother was sweating buckets and frankly (no disrespect intended) quite smelly. It was obvious her children adored her. Her husband walked around with a scowl and stared at everyone. His wife had a gentle smile behind her veil and seemed contented.

As a non Muslim, it appeared to me that the wife was a lovely and very humble person. The husband was very controlling and didn't appear kind. Jealousy?

This makes me wonder if the hijab is no longer a religious symbol but a means of oppresion for Muslim women.

Abused women of any religion or non-religion are controlled women and learn to accept this as their normal way of life. They become uncomfortable outside of their 'normal' way of life.

Again, just my observation.

So if I'm to understand the Muslim who have responded, the women are to be basically invisible accept for their voice and the men can't control their lust and may attack a woman due to lack of restraint. So if a woman is raped, it is the woman's fault because she exposed her face or a bit of arm?

Whoa! I'm glad I'm an American!

Sorry - I find that to be barbaric - but then it is not my religion and every adult is entitled to believe the way they choose according to the laws of their country.

As to the nuns, I think most have that one right. Their garment is worn to let the world know their faith and that they are not available for marriage as they serve a life of devotion to their church. They too are to dress respectfully, but this does not mean they are have to cover every square inch of their body to please God.

The rapist is cruel person who is not controlled by what the woman wears.The attack is to cause pain and humilation because rapists are insane controllers.

Answer 1

1 Corinthians 11:7-9:"For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman: but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels."

The King James translation is a bit obscure in this respect (as in many others) but if you look at some of the other translations:
http://bible.cc/1_corinthians/11-10.htm it comes down to the same thing.

Christian women should all wear a similar garment to their Muslim sisters.

Answer 2

First, very few nuns still wear traditional habits. The only ones that come to mind are the cloistered orders, such at the Carmelites and few conservative orders. The Vatican council in the 60s relaxed the rules tremendously.

The parts of the traditional habit have their roots in the dress of the Middle Ages. The wimple and veil were normal parts of middle/upper class dress. The religious orders adapted uniform dress to allow those members to be identifiable by the public. Habits were also adapted to the culture of the area, such as Mother Teresa's sisters wearing saris. It was a sign of the woman's commitment to her order and her religion.

In spite of being an atheist, I have to say I have an admiration for nuns. Some of them have accomplished amazing things. I see them as bringing a needed feminine principle to a patriarchal religion. Fundamentalist protestantism would be well served to add a little of the female to their structure!

Answer 3

A nuns habit is the freely chosen uniform of a religious order. No different from any uniform worn by members of any organization.

A hijab is an oppressive garment forced on ALL women of that faith, or just who live in a Muslim country, whether they are nuns or not.

Answer 4

The biggest difference I can see is that Catholic nuns intentionally choose to enter a life of celibacy and religious practice and wear their habit as a part of that. Muslim women in many countries make no such choice and it is a requirement of all the women not just those who dedicate their entire lives to religious practice.
I will accept that many or even most Muslim women would choose to wear what they do but the choice is often not offered so there is an ethical difference.

Answer 5

Both the hijab and the Habit that Nuns wear is a direct link to ALLAH(SWT) by preserving their modesty and not appearing as sex slaves. In Islam women are required to cover everything except the eyes(Hijab which is the head scarf, the Abaya which is the long robe that covers from head to toes, and the Niqab which is the face veil which is to be worn as soon as the girl has her first period). Both men and women are required to dress modestly in Islam so as not to attract the attention of the opposite sex and to appear like sex slaves because modesty is very important in Islam. In the Qur'an it says that women are diamonds and gold so naturally you would want to protect your diamonds(women) from being broken or harmed. Women believe that their beauty is only to be shown to their fathers, sons, husband, and brothers. It is not a sign of oppression it is a sign of liberation. By wearing the hijab, Abaya, and Niqab a woman is forcing men to look at her and respect her for her mind not her body and to see that she is equal to man and is not to be lusted after. Men do need to control their lust but is really a woman's beauty that causes a man to lust so she could cover everything so as not to tempt the man.

Answer 6

Very little - both are worn for modesty, both are designed to prevent a man being tempted and coveting what he can't have.

Btw, monks do or at least did were habit like robes.

Men don't tend to were hijabs as they are in many ways a form of dress (now how silly would a man look in a dress?).


In Islam women are advised to cover themselves from neck to wrist to ankle so that only the face hands and feet are visible, however men are required to be covered from navel to knee.

Answer 7

If God likes Habits of Nuns He also likes Hijab of a Muslim woman.

The main purpose is the same.

-A symbolic identification of a good woman by appearance.

Answer 8

The habit is the wedding dress of the nun, as she is the bride of Christ. The major difference is the covering of the face. Nuns do not wear a veil, whereas the Hijab does have a veil.

Answer 9

nuns wear the garb as a biblical tradition.....they have modifed it in recent times to be more comfortable....covering is mainly for modesty...there is no punishment if they do not wear it

muslim women wear it theoretically to be modest also...but in many places they can be killed if they "expose" an arm or a leg too much....

Answer 10

because when a nun becomes a nun she has taken a vow of celibacy, and poverty.

when your poor you usually were things that look ragety.