Some questions about feminism from a Muslim.

I think a key thing to remember is that there are many different strands of feminism and they are incompatible in many ways so just because one feminist says something doesn't mean it's true for all feminists.

For example, there are feminists who believe that prostitution can be empowering to women because they look at an individual level and it can help a desperate woman to earn money so they believe it's ok. However I am a radical feminist (meaning looking at the root of the issue, rather than extreme) and see prostitution as harmful to women as a class and believe there should never be a woman desperate enough to need to sell her body.

As to whether religion and feminism are compatible it depends on whether you believe your holy text is the absolute word of God or whether you see it as the interpretation of God's message by fallible humans. Nearly all holy books state that women are subservient to men - if you think that God has mandated this then it's difficult to reconcile that with the core beliefs of feminism, it becomes easier if you see it as a reflection of the time it was written.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with choosing to wear the hijab

If however you describe this as "dressing modestly" you may find that people who don't "dress modestly" or who don't think there is any need to "dress modestly" dislike the term.

They object to women feeling that they need to wear high heels or make up But women don't need to do this. Many women don't. There is no religious coercion to do so and no punishment for failing to do so.

You choose to wear hijab but there are countries where women have no choice other than to wear it. Your choice to an extent therefore is validating the enforced wearing.

Hello! The answer I would give is that feminism is about breaking down the patriarchal rules that exist in society. There are short term goals, like creating safe spaces for women because those are needed now, and long term goals like changing society so that men no longer view women as objects to be abused.
I don't know enough about Islam to comment specifically on that and wouldn't attempt to 'islamsplain' to you but I think the examples you state are in line with short term goals of keeping women safe but not long term ones of changing the structure of power if that makes sense?

I'm a Muslim woman and I've been told I can't be a feminist and practise my religion

Anyone who tells you this is talking absolute nonsense. There are so many inspiring Muslim feminist women (and I've also read pieces by Muslim men who are strongly supportive of feminism). Malala Yousafzai is an example of a Muslim feminist who is an inspirational figure, and one of many.

So why is it wrong to say that women should be protected?

My issue with the notion of women being protected in general is that it's protection from male violence - so the need for women to be protected is only there because of the threat of male violence. This angers me because it's a way women can be controlled and women's lives limited because of things some men choose to do to us.

We are told by feminists that this is wrong, so how should a feminist dress?

There is absolutely nothing wrong with choosing to wear the hijab. Many Muslim women choose to do so. Many women women choose not to. Both choices should be respected so anyone who insults your agency by saying you haven't made a free choice is being rather insulting in my opinion.

I have an issue with the notion any woman should dress in a certain way to avoid being judged or viewed sexually by men - this I see as separate from women wearing a hijab though. I think it's the responsibility of men and boys not to objectify women and suggesting women should dress in a certain way to avoid it is a step down the path to victim blaming. Women and girls are harassed no matter what we wear, so it's up to men to stop doing it.

I don't know enough about religion to say enough about whether religion and feminism are compatible but I do know there are a lot of feminist Muslims, Christians, Jewish, Hindu, Sikh. They know more of their religions than I do so it does seem there is compatibility even if the texts many religions are based on aren't great for the position of women.

I'm no expert on any of this of course!