Critical Reflection #3

Gender and Cultural Equality

“In Canada, the hijab is often seen as a symbol of Muslim women’s oppression and a restriction to their mobility, particularly in the media.” (Ruby, 34-35)

This is exactly how I perceived Muslim women (oppressed) before reading the article: “Listening to the Voices of Hijab.” I soon learned, however, that “the hijab empowers them in numerous ways: making their identities’ distinct: taking control of their bodies; and giving them a sense of belonging to a wider Muslim world.” (Ruby, 34-35)

To non-Muslim women, such as myself, the hijab is disconcerting. Women of the western world are free to wear what they choose, show their bodies however they like and when we see a woman who “has to” cover her body, it threatens us, it threatens feminism, but why? These feelings are unjustified because we are uneducated about the hijab. It’s important to learn what the hijab is and what it signifies to its’ wearers. The Muslim-Canadian women interviewed in this article choose to wear the hijab: they are not told that they must wear it!

In the article “Listening to the Voices of Hijab,” Muslim women were asked to described the hijab and what it meant to them: they produced a variety of meanings including headscarves, modest clothing and modest behavior. The women believed that wearing the hijab was a way of protecting their moral society, and their bodies. It gives them a sense of security and they feel that they are treated with more respect, especially from men. The hijab is a cultural and religious symbol.

One of the interviewees “stated that the religion accommodates people’s cultural differences…some things are a little flexible, because you have to adjust with time, culture and country.” (Ruby, 36-37)

Muslim women feel they are making a statement of who they are by wearing their hijab: “whether she be identified as a ‘terrorist’ or a ‘good’ person in Canada is a secondary consideration for her. The significant element to her is that she will be known as a Muslim in a non-Muslim country.” (Ruby, 39) Differentiating yourself and having others recognize your difference is important to the cultural identity of minorities and for society at-large.

Works Cited

Ruby, T.F. “Listening to the Voices of Hijab.” The Gendered Society Reader: Canadian Edition. 2008: 34-45.

Blige, Sirma. “Between Gender and Cultural Equality.” Recasting the Social in Citizenship. 2009: 100-33.