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."

[SkyDancer]

Sorry but no I didn’t ... I’ve had many discussions with my Mormon family about this and other ‘sacraments’ ... the patriarch of the family is a bishop in his ward. I’ve attended classes at his local stake when invited to attend. I know more about Mormon theology than most Mormons. My host said that for someone who is not a Mormon that I know more about Mormonism than the average Mormon. He has told missionary’s who come to the home not to get into a theological debate with me because they’d loose ... he has on occasion complimented me on my knowledge of LDS theology.

[AmericanArchConservative]

Yes

...Except that Ishmael was the son of Hagar and Abraham, while Isaac was the son on Abraham and Sarah.

This is where the mohammadans pervert the patriarchy, claiming that G_d’s covenant and blessing were upon Ishmael, while Isaac was only the recipient of G_d’s blessing - not the other way around.

They also claim that the Lord never directed Abraham to climb the mountain and sacrifice Isaac, as well as saying that Jesus was not crucified - because G_d would have never allowed men to kill a prophet.

All of which is equally as ridiculous as claiming that the fall in the garden of Eden was actually a “Wise Choice”...

A.A.C.

[reaganaut]

The Mormon church didn’t. Just another false statement equating individual members with the church as a whole.

- - - - - - - - -

Actually the leadership DID support the Nazis even staing how wonderful they were and sending GA’s to Hitler in hopes that the Mormons would not be seen as a threat to the Nazis and thus left alone.

Research it (not just LDS sources) before you assume it is a ‘false statement’.

[reaganaut]

I think what OO meant by ‘wrong turn’ was you accused our ELSIE of being pro LDS.

[SkyDancer]

Well OO should have stated what he/she meant ...

[Osage Orange]

That would be correct.............

[Godzilla]

placemark

[svcw]

bitttt

[Elsie]

Was MormonDude up to his old tricks again? ;^)

[Osage Orange]

True dat!!

[SkyDancer]

Not sure who he is or what he’s trying to accomplish. He doesn’t seem to know very much about what he’s talking about ...

[JouleZ]

“... they particularly get upset when you mention the Mountain Meadow Massacre ... they say “Oh no no no - it wasn’t us” ....”
_________________________________________________________

I know. I’m related to the Tackitt’s. I will never forget.

[JouleZ]

You are misinformed. Google Mountain Meadow Massacre, 1857.

[BlueMoose]

Thanks for your confirmation

[Elsie]

You are welcome.

[colorcountry]

Thanks for your confirmation

I didn't know Elsie had the correct authority to 'confirm.'

[Chickensoup]

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

Some Mennonite, Amish, and Hutterites wear head coverings. Traditional Catholics nuns wear veils, Catholic women had to wear a head covering in church services until 1964.

Women were expectd to wear hats in public until after WWII.

It is not the covering that is the issue, it is the political social intolerance of islam