"THE STORIES OF A HEADSCARF"
BY ZAINAB SALBI, POSTED 1/29/15
"Muslim women are needed as critical agents of change in this historical transformative moment in Islamic history and the Middle East. Yet it’s tough to be a Muslim woman these days. We’ve become symbols, not individuals. And that’s in no small part thanks to the global fixation on the headscarf."
Restricted Freedom
ReplyDeleteMuslim women are a significant part of change in Islamic nations, but they are not able to express their individual opinion, as they have become a conformed and restricted group. This is a prevalent misconception that the scarf is linked to the idea of piety, restriction, and obedience. There are numerous reasons behind the use of the scarf, which includes security, freedom, and comfort. The scarf is used as a social pact and or a political expression. The scarf provides an array of uses to various individuals under different circumstance. The author states” two choices: headscarf equals religious; no headscarf equals secular.” While the scarf has evolved into a symbol of comfort or security for Muslim women others see it as the symbol of religious piety and faithfulness.
I think it's a big step for Iran that women can wear whatever color scarf and have a much better sense of freedom. I also think its true that the scarf can keep women more safe because it draws attention away from their parts that might intrigue a man. I think its interesting that guys even wear headscarves sometimes because it provides protection from the sun. It is still awful that women are forced to wear these scarves, not just because it is uncomfortable, but because it shows that women are not treated equally with men which is quite ridiculous in this day and age.
ReplyDeleteI believe that this article well highlights the daily struggle a Muslim woman has to face. She shows the internal struggle a women faces as to whether she should wear a headscarf or not. The author shows us that most people assume that wearing a headscarf is either religious or secular. She ,however illustrates to us that the headscarf is more than a religious symbol but it can be a political statement, social pact, or a way to be safe and free as well.
ReplyDeleteThe entire article addressed two main ideas that I was guilty of thinking. The first being that muslim women are symbols and those not wearing the scarf are secular. I would say that is extremely accurate. Even in Persepolis I felt like Marji was just a symbol for other Iranian women who are defying the fundamentalist rule. To continue I would also like to dress the insight she had about the headscarf itself. She showed me that their are practical uses for a headscarf and it doesn't always point to religion, rather just the need for something that covers a woman's face. To conclude I think she did a really good job as painting Women in the middle east as practical individuals who are just like you and me.
ReplyDeleteI think that the theme of this article is very similar to the theme of the letter we read the other night; don't generalize. She is saying that just because a women wears a headscarf, it doesn't make her a strict Muslim. And just because a women does not wear a headscarf it does not make her secular.This relates to Persepolis well because she only wore the veil because she had to, not because she as a fundamentalist. I think this is a very important message for people all over the world if they want to become good global citizens.
ReplyDeleteI think that the writer is forgetting that the headscarf has been a symbol of Muslim piety for hundreds of years. A majority of people in the US and Europe do not wear the scarf and do not even know someone personally who wears it, so it is hard to separate Islam from the scarf out of pure ignorance. I think that it is very interesting that these same stereotypes are perpetuated in the Middle East where they personally know people who wear the scarf and their reasons for wearing it. It all comes down to creating “the space to hear Muslim women for who they are individually and not to judge them merely as a monolithic community,” as the author said, in both the Middle East and in the West.
ReplyDeleteI think that is article is very accurate, and I have previously thought some of the things that the author listed about women wearing headscarves that are not true. I also noticed the common theme from this article and the Ayatollah letter, do not judge people and presume things when you do not have background knowledge. I never really compared the headscarf to a similar aspect of clothing in the U.S. but when the article said some teenage girls may wear the same color headscarf as a social thing just like teenage girls may wear the same jacket or sweater for the same reason. This example really made me realize how many different things the headscarf can represent and this could be so much as your religion or even your mood that particular day.
ReplyDeleteThis article is very informational about the headscarf that women wear. I feel that just like the letter, it points out how the women are judged for wearing the headscarf and practicing their religion. Towards the end, it says that we could create new modernity if we learn to accept the headscarf and I think that the idea of that sentence is very good. Overall, I think that this article really brings attention to how different women with headscarves are treated then those who don't.v
ReplyDeleteI find this article to be very accurate and it provides a strong message, not to stereotype against women that were a headscarf. I found it to be very powerful when Salbi said, "We’ve become symbols, not individuals." This quote relates to Persepolis, when Marji is first told to wear the veil. Their is an image of her and many of her classmates wearing the veil, but you cannot recognize one student from the other because its the idea that the veil hides the identity. I also was very intruiged when Salbi compares the headscarf to american clothing. She talks about how kids will plan certain colors of the headscarf to wear to show that they are in a certain group, like teenagers in the west will wear matching jackets to showcase a group they are a part of. I thought this was very powerful because it contradicts the idea that a women who wears the headscarf is a traditional muslim, and proves that they can relate to various types of people. Women who wear the headscarf are mainly considered to be traditionalists, although they are so much more.
ReplyDeleteThe article is an interesting explanation of a piece of clothing that has become a symbol of a religion. The scarf is worn for so many different reasons that I did not realize, I found it interesting it can be used as a kind of cover for someone who is trying to hide their behavior from their parents. While the religious aspect is obvious, it being used as something that unites a group of women, such as women wearing the same color veil to show they are in a club or stand together on an issue. It is interesting and frightening how the veil can be used as protection, living in the United States the culture is so different it is hard to imagine.
ReplyDeleteThis article has opened my eyes to respect Muslim women for wearing it. The headscarf is not just a symbol of their religion but a symbol of who they are. They wear it proudly in freedom and nationalism. The fact that the women can wear the headscarves to seperate them into a group is very common and should not be looked at with an odd eye. A lot of people categorize themselves through clothing as the article states. Lastly, The article addressed that everyone deserves a choice on whether or not to wear the headscarf. Marji is growing up in a home where the headscarf is a symbol of oppression and her family wishes to not wear it and that is understood and respected by all nowadays.
ReplyDeleteI found this article very interesting because many people make judgements due to the headscarf without fully understanding its significance. Before reading I did not all the reasons that women wear headscarves. I thought all women wore them purely for religious reasons because they thought it the righteous thing to do. The other reason I thought women wore headscarves was because men in their cultures forced them to. I think it is a shame that women should have to wear headscarves because of social and cultural obligations rather than by their own choice. I think women should feel free to do what they want and not be pressured into doing something that they wouldn't necessarily do otherwise.
ReplyDeleteThis is Mimi's comment:
ReplyDelete"Before reading this article, I truly thought that they were just going to speak about the headscarf in a religious way and what it means to the women of the Muslim community. But while skimming over the subheadings I saw the words “freedom” and “social, and I noticed I perceived this article completely wrong. The main goal of this article was to show the readers, like me, to look beyond the stereotypes of the headscarf. I enjoyed how they listed the different ways a headscarf can be expressed and shows that this simple piece of clothing is so much more than part of a religion. Muslim women who wear the headscarf are no different than American women who decide to follow a fashion trend, which is why now after reading this article I will not judge women wearing a headscarf due to my stereotypical thoughts. More articles are needed like this around the world that address other matters as well."