WHY
DO I WEAR HIJAAB !!
I probably do not
fit into the preconceived notion of a 'rebel'. I have no
visible tattoos and minimal piercings. I do not possess a
leather jacket. In fact, when most people look at me, their
first thought usually is something along the lines of
'oppressed female'.
The brave
individuals who have mustered the courage to ask me about the
way I dress usually have questions like: 'Do you parents
make you wear that?' or, 'Don't you find that really unfair?'
A while back, a
couple of girls in Montreal were kicked out of school for
dressing like I do. It seems strange that a little piece of
cloth would make for such controversy. Perhaps the fear is
that I am harbouring an Uzi underneath it.
Of course, the
issue at hand is more than a mere piece of cloth. I am a
Muslim woman who, like millions other Muslim women across the
globe, chooses to wear the Hijaab. And the concept of the
Hijaab, contrary to popular opinion, is actually one of the
most fundamental aspects of female empowerment. When I cover
myself, I make it virtually impossible for people to judge me
according to the way I look.
I cannot be
categorised because of my attractiveness or lack thereof.
Compare this to life in today's society: We are constantly
sizing one another up on the basis of our clothing, jewellery,
hair and makeup. What kind of depth can there be in a world
like this?
Yes, I have a
body, a physical manifestation upon this Earth. But it is the
vessel of an intelligent mind and a strong spirit. It is not
for the beholder to leer at or to use in advertisements to
sell everything from beer to cars. Because of the
superficiality of the world in which we live, external
appearances are so stressed that the value of the individual
counts for almost nothing. It is a myth that women in
today's society are liberated. What kind of freedom can
there be when a woman cannot walk down the street without
every aspect of her physical self being 'checked out'.
When I wear the Hijaab I feel safe from all of this. I can be
rest assured that no one is looking at me and making
assumptions about my character from the length of my skirt.
There is a barrier between me and those who would exloit me. I
am first and foremost a human being and not vulnerable because
of my sexuality. One of the saddest truths of our time is the
question of the beauty myth and female self-image. Reading
popular teenage magazines, you can instantly find out what
king of body image is 'in' or 'out'. And if you have
the 'wrong' body type, well, then, you're just going to
have to change it, aren't you. After all, there is no way
that you can be overweight and still be beautiful.
Look at any
advertisement. Is a woman being used to sell the product? How
old is she? How attractive is she? What is she wearing more
often than not? That woman will be no older than her early
20s, taller, slimmer and more attractive than average, dressed
in skimpy clothing. Why do we allow ourselves to be
manipulated like this? Whether the 90s woman wished to believe
it or not, she is being forced into a mould.
She is being
coerced into selling herself, into compromising herself. This
is why we have 13-year-old girls sticking their fingers down
their throats and overweight adolescents hanging themselves.
When people ask me if I feel oppressed, I can honestly say no.
I made this decision out of my own free will. I like the fact
that I am taking control of the way other people perceive me.
I enjoy the fact that I don't give anyone anything to look
at and that I have released myself from the bondage of the
swinging pendulum of the fashion industry and other
institutions that exploit females. My body is my own business.
Nobody can tell me how I should look or whether or not I am
beautiful. I know that there is more to me than that. I am
also able to say no comfortably when people ask me if I feel
as though my sexuality is being repressed. I have taken
control of my sexuality.
I am thankful I
will never have to suffer the fate of trying to lose/gain
weight or trying to find the exact lipstick shade that will go
with my skin colour. I have made choices about what my
priorities are and these are not among them. So next time you
see me, don't look at me sympathetically. I am not under
duress or a male-worshipping female captive. I've been
liberated.
Sultana Yusuf
Ali
17 Year Old High School Student
Published in Toronto Star - Young People's Press
Last modified:
July 19, 2007
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