How many Western women feel funny hanging out with women who wear the hijab?

Question

I have a nice figure ( but I don't go overboard) like the girls on Southwest Airlines. However, I feel funny around women who wear the hijab, as if by their presence I am made to feel morally lacking in a group. I feel insulted because I am naturally attractive and I feel that they are trying to force their beliefs (Allah) on me. I think a little fun is okay. I love my freedom to independence, and no matter what women say who wear the hijab, they are giving up a bit of freedom. I love wearing heels on a bright sunny day and wearing my hair down, hanging on my shoulders. Also, as much as a woman who wears the hijab wants to believe she will never experience the wonderful feel of running along the beach with her nice sexy muscled legs, enjoying just breathing and being herself. I know other women will answer this by saying they can run along the beach with a hijab which I feel is BS -never in the same way, it must be stifling-literally and figuratively.

Answer 1

I don't feel funny, but I do feel sorry for them. Some really seemed happy when I visited Pakistan last year. But, just as it gets 90 and 100 degrees here in the summer, it was like that there, and to see women in full dress with the hijab and even some women in a burka was absolutely astonishing to me. Thank God for America!

Answer 2

you are assuming that the women who veil would feel more comfortable unveiled and that "being comfortable and being herself" is the same for everyone as it is for you. Hijab is a choice, and yes, when a woman chooses it, she does choose to give up some things. however, multiple studies on the action of assuming the veil have shown that the intent is to display openly one's devotion to God (and in case you didn't know "Allah" is just the Arabic word for God) and/or to openly display one's identity as a Muslim. Therefore, these women feel like they are more themselves when veiled.

I'm not clear how someone else's garment choices make you feel like they are forcing beliefs on YOU. no one is making you veil, and no one should be trying to gain moral superiority by veiling. Other people make their choices for their reasons, it is very rarely about you.

Not only do I feel fine around veiled women, I have worn a veil myself just to see what it was like. Yes it can be constricting in some circumstances, like on a blazing hot day, but most of the time it was quite comfortable. I only stopped because if i were to do something like that, I would want to because I believed and respected the concept behind it. I felt that doing it as a non-muslim was disrespectful of me.

also, the wearing heels thing? Here in Jordan the veiled girls are more likely to be wearing stylish shoes with high heels and sequins than the unveiled girls.Tons more make up too.

If you have questions about the veil and the reasons behind it, ask a woman in hijab about it. She probably would prefer that you know instead of make assumptions.

Answer 3

How do you know that southwest airlines is run by Muslims? You don't know who it is run by. Personally I agree with the airline's decision to kick her off the plane. There are little children who don't need to see a woman's breasts sticking out of her shirt. If she wanted to wear that she could have at least worn a coat or a long sleeve shirt to cover up while on the flight. I am a western American woman who is also Muslim and I would much rather prefer sitting next to women who wear hijab or are at least dressed decently not with half their chest sticking out. I wear hijab because ALLAH(SWT) commands me to do so in the Qur'an and some very strong Hadiths and also because I want to preserve my modesty and only believe in showing my beauty to my husband, future sons, and 5 year old brother. I also fear the fires of Hell and ALLAH(SWT). I am not trying to impress strange men or invite strange men to rape me. That is why I dress modestly and wear hijab and why I will wear Niqab and Abaya as well when I get money to buy them.

Answer 4

It doesn't bother me. Many women wear wigs or hats most or all of the time. A hijab isn't really that much different.

Answer 5

I am more interested in your sense of outrage in the presence of a veiled woman - why should you feel enough guilt to mention 'a little fun' - 'love wearing heels' - 'nice sexy muscled legs' and 'hair hanging down' like a soft porn advertisement? Are you a bloke?

Answer 6

No. You're intolerant. How are they "forcing their beliefs on you"? If I wear a red shirt and I also forcing my colour preference on you? I notice you don't have an avatar there, you are forcing your non-avatar having beliefs on me and I'm downright offended by that @$#!@

You're just another meddling broad who feels the need to control the world irrespective of whether it has very little impact on you.

Btw I'm not a Muslim I'm an atheist, I just dislike religious intolerance.

Get a life.

Answer 7

I agree with you, in a way. If I hang out with nudists, I will feel some pressure to remove my clothes. If I hang out with Amish, I am going to feel like I stick out by wearing a red shirt. If I go to a business meeting wearing flip-flops, I will feel like they are looking down on me.

And the fact is, they will be. People typically fasten onto the first thing they see that is significantly different about someone's appearance, and attribute every negative thing they see to that. If I go to a business meeting with long hair and flip-flops and make a mistake in my presentation, it won't be because "sometimes people make mistakes under pressure," but because I am a "stupid, lazy, dope-smoking hippy."

So I think when you sit with a number of others who are wearing the hijab, yes, they probably are judging you. At the same time, if you are going to be mature, you must realize this is inevitable, and you do the same.

So let it go. Do your best to talk with them, enjoy their company, and be a good friend to them. And if they come to respect you as a wise and kind person, maybe THEN they MIGHT listen to you enough to understand your point of view regarding their customs.

But I wouldn't count on it.