Muslim modesty: Head coverings a symbol of faith or oppression? (Mormon Times Article)OPEN

Mormon Times ^ | March 22, 2010 | Nicole Warburton

[greyfoxx39]

Muslim modesty: Head coverings a symbol of faith or oppression?

By Nicole Warburton

Deseret News
Published: 2009-08-22 00:54:18

It is probably one of the most visible and controversial symbols of Islam.

Westerners often view the hijab, or head covering, worn by Muslim women as oppressive. Even among members of the Islamic faith, it is subject of debate.

How should it be worn?

Does it need to be worn?

Is it a choice or requirement?

In recent months, the hijab and other forms of Islamic coverings have come under scrutiny in the media and by politicians. In June, French president Nicolas Sarkozy suggested women who completely cover their faces by wearing burqas are silent prisoners and that the practice is a "debasement of women."

Those comments have translated into debate over why Muslim women cover at all.

For Maysa Kergaye, coordinator of the Utah Islamic Speakers Bureau, the reason to veil is simple: It's a requirement of the Islamic religion. Beyond that, it is something that serves as a reminder of her beliefs and a "shield" to help protect her from doing the wrong things and being in the wrong place.

Kergaye said she does not feel diminished as result of wearing her hijab.

"Islam actually came and liberated women," she said. "It said they are equal and should not be viewed as a piece of meat. They're humans. They are individuals who do not have to sell their body. They should use their brains."

The tradition of women veiling their heads has been around for centuries, even among early Christians, according to Frank Griffel, professor of Islamic Studies at Yale University. The rules for its use among members of the Islamic faith can be found in Sura 24 of the Quran, where both men and women are told to guard their modesty.

In regard to women, it reads: "And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms." The rest of the scripture clarifies that women only need to cover in front of males who are not family.

Because the verses are not explicit, there are a few Muslims who believe modesty does not require covering, however, religious text clarifies it beyond any doubt, according to Kergaye. Some cultures are more liberal, while others have more conservative methods of dress and types of headscarves.

But in the United States, where Muslims are a clear minority, there are challenges to wearing something as visible as the hijab, according to Sarah Ahmad, a junior at Weber State University and former president of the WSU Muslim Student Association.

She has heard stories of women getting turned down for jobs as result of their head covering. And Ahmad believes people view Muslims who cover their heads differently than if they don't cover.

She currently does not wear a head covering but wants to in the future. She is worried she would experience prejudice.

"I feel that it is something that would add a whole new complexity to what I do," said Ahmad, who grew up in Brigham City. "I question myself if I am ready to do that."

But she doesn't view the covering as oppressive. In fact, her sister Maryam, who is 17, said her parents have encouraged her to wait until she is 18 years old to cover because they don't want people to think she is being forced to do it.

"I know Muslim women in the West, we think it's insulting for people to assume we are forced to wear it," Maryam said. "We don't want people to assume we have no free will. It is our decision."

In her view, wearing a hijab is a way to actually help women focus more on themselves versus outward physical appearance.

People are also more likely to judge a Muslim woman on character versus looks if she dresses modestly, said Maryam.

"Society wants women to have shiny hair, to be thin and have nice skin," she said. "You see teen girls bingeing and throwing up food, suffering from self-esteem issues and I always wonder how that is not a form of oppression."

Jen'nan Read, associate professor of sociology and global health at Duke University, said she believes one of the reasons people have misconceptions about Muslims in the U.S. is because there are so few members of the faith here to fight the myths.

Oftentimes, the only information people have is from the news, where stories frequently run about women who are oppressed as result of cultural practices, not the Islamic faith, Read said.

"The religion has been linked with terrorism and with gender roles," she said. "We all compartmentalize and I think for the average person it is easy to immediately jump to the wrong conclusion."

From her perspective, the key to removing prejudices is for more contact between Muslims and non-Muslims. And in fact, women such as the Ahmad sisters and Kergaye encourage questions.

"Many people have the wrong idea of Islam," said Kergaye. "I'd rather answer a question than have someone go on having the wrong understanding."

[greyfoxx39]

Disclaimer: I am former LDS and "anti" mormonism. I post articles from official mormon sources that often relate to current discussions taking place on the forum to provide a means for open discussion in the Religion forum.

 

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[greyfoxx39]

Inman ping

[Tennessee Nana]

And yet mormon females had to wear a veil at one time...

[svcw]

There sure is an infinity between mormons and muslims.
My cover is my hair (such as it is now).

[T Minus Four]

And yet mormon females had to wear a veil at one time...

Really? Like a hijib sort of veil? Who made them?

[Hodar]

"We don't want people to assume we have no free will. It is our decision."

Yes, they make the decision of wearing the hajib or being beaten ... that's a pretty tough decision to make. Oh, they are so brave.

Here's the part that bothers me; we have given millions of lives over our history, of our best who have died on foreign shores to give these people freedom to live as they will. For ingrateful people to be free from tyranny; then we have religious sects who wish to inflict tyranny on the entire globe, comeing here and complaining about how they feel 'persecuted' for wearing the hajib.

Darling, if you don't like it here; you are free to leave. No one invited you, you chose to come here. Now that you are here, it is expected that you will adopt OUR ways, we are under no compuncture to change our ways. While youa re here, you will see people who are free to change from Jewish to Catholocism, to Mormonism, to Buddhist and even Athiesm without stigma. Try that at home, then tell me about how rough you have it here.

[SnakeDoctor]

It is a symbol of faith if chosen by women, a symbol of oppression if forced on women. Seems pretty straight forward.

In most cases, it is likely a symbol of faith in Western democracies). In eastern and/or less libertarian countries, I think it is more prone to being forced on women, and thus a symbol of oppression.

SnakeDoc

[Tennessee Nana]

Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God. 1 Coreinthians 11:13-16

[SkyDancer]

Mormon men put a veil over the face of their dead wife in their coffins. At the resurrection (according to LDS belief) the man is resurrected first and >then< they remove the veil off the wife’s face and she’s resurrected. That’s why Mormon women will hold on to their husband no matter what ... no veil removal, no resurrection.

[Colofornian]

From the article: Jen'nan Read, associate professor of sociology and global health at Duke University, said she believes one of the reasons people have misconceptions about Muslims in the U.S. is because there are so few members of the faith here to fight the myths. Oftentimes, the only information people have is from the news..."The religion has been linked with terrorism and with gender roles," she said. "We all compartmentalize and I think for the average person it is easy to immediately jump to the wrong conclusion."

Translation: What? The "News" has been "wrong" to link terrorism or suppression of women with Islam??? These are just "myths" and "misconceptions."

(Yeah, this is what Mormons say, too)

[Paul Ross]

Reminds me of...

All she lacks is a light-saber.

[rstrahan]

The problem goes to forced extremism, no matter what religion.

[Domandred]

Don’t think LDS women were stoned or beheaded for not wearing a veil ...

[SENTINEL]

"The Greek and Roman Churches, which have been called Christian, and which take the name of Christians as a cloak, have worshipped innumerable idols. On this account, on the simple subject of the Deity and His worship, if nothing more, I should rather incline, of the two, after all my early traditions, education, and prejudices, to the side of Mahomet, for on this point he is on the side of truth, and the Christian world on the side of idolatry and heathenism." – FLDS/LDS Apostle Parley P. Pratt, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 3, p.38

[SENTINEL]

"Now, if we take Mahometanism during those dark ages, and the corruptions that are so universally prevalent over the earth, and the idolatrous systems of religion, falsely called Christianity, and weigh them in a balance; with all my education in favor of Christian nations and Christian powers, and Christian institutions, so called, with all my prejudices of early youth, and habits of thought and reading, my rational faculties would compel me to admit that the Mahometan history and Mahometan doctrine was a standard raised against the most corrupt and abominable idolatry that over perverted our earth, found in the creeds and worship of Christians – FLDS/LDS Apostle Parley P. Pratt, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 3, p.40

[svcw]

Correct. But see post #9.

[SENTINEL]

....Regarding Ishmael and his ancestors(muslims), the sons of Sariah.

Genesis 16:12 (New International Version)

12 He will be a wild donkey of a man;
his hand will be against everyone
and everyone’s hand against him,
and he will live in hostility
toward all his brothers.”

[Tennessee Nana]

#9

That might be what I mean...

I know there’s something about women and veils..

[SkyDancer]

Lots of interesting stuff out there that the LDS church don’t want people to know ... they particularly get upset when you mention the Mountain Meadow Massacre ... they say “Oh no no no - it wasn’t us” ....

[Gay State Conservative]

Moslem women are seen by moslem men as cattle.always have been...always will be.Yet another reason (of *many*) for it to be called The Religion of Pieces.