I'm a hijab wearing Muslim woman, ask me anything!

[hijabijabi]

Happy to answer all questions, but most comfortable with questions about my experiences - I can try to answer questions about Islam but am no expert, and other Muslims may hold different opinions.
I'll only be checking the thread intermittenty, so my answers might not be immediate.

And with regard to sexualising little girls, parents have control over how they dress their children. The choose to put their daughters in these coverings. Woman and girls should not be ashamed of their bodies and feel they must cover themselves in front of men. Such as sad and deeply troubling state of affairs.

There is no need for girls of that age to wear the hijab
Well you seem to be in the minority of your fellow Muslims in that belief. It is common to see primary school girls wearing them, not just the odd one or two.

From the OP at 20:36 yesterday:
“I don't have a daughter. If I did I would make it clear she was expected to wear hijab”

I will stand up for the right of women (and men) to wear whatever they want to wear and whatever they feel comfortable in. Unfortunately my experience of many women across a range of Muslim countries where they are forced to wear ‘garments that are required by Islam’ is that they are not able to exercise their full freedom of choice over their clothing, or indeed over many aspects of their lives, much of which is dictated by the male dominated way Islamic countries have arranged themselves.

For example. When Tehran was first added to my route network st work I was intrigued because I had heard there was good skiing close to the city, and I live a good skiing trip. But when I looked into it I realised that I would be placing myself at huge risk. Skiing is a male only activity in Iran, although the skiing is good. Some women go, but they must either have a male relative to chaperone them, or they take risks by going alone and being seen to step outside of the expected modesty of behaviour for women. Our company security brief states what clothing we must wear, going on to say that many Iranian push against the restrictions imposed on them but that in order to ensure our safety we must not do that. If they were happy at being covered, why would they push against it? In Iran we cannot be rostered 2 female pilots on a flight as then there would be no man in charge (seriously!) and women pilots are not permitted to carry out the external pre-flight inspection of the aircraft as our pilots uniform is not deemed to cover us sufficiently. By flying planes I t also suggests that our minds have exposed to male, and therefore less modest, thoughts and ideas.

In Saudi Arabia I am permitted to fly with another woman and have done so long before the photos of the hijabed Brunei pilots was doing the rounds. It is only recently that we have been excused from wearing head coverings but still have the Chador forced on us, physically in some cases. Women here travel on our flights wearing what they want to, and very glamorous they are in First Class and Business too! But before landing they scurry into the loos to don their outer clothing. If they were wearing what they wanted why do they suddenly change their dress on returning to an oppressive Islamic regime? If Islam required them to cover up so and they are good Muslims why don’t they wear it on the flight? This is a regular occurrence on every single Saudi flight btw, not something I saw just once.

In many of these countries there is a religious police force patrolling, well, anywhere, ready to pounce if you are not seen to be upholding Muslim dress and the main victims are women. You might say that you wear what you wish to, OP and I will defend your right to do so. But by your choice and by stating it is a requirement of Islam (IT ISN’T!) you are one tiny brick in the wall of oppression of all these other women who are only wearing full covers because they are forced to. You state that many of these extra dress requirements are cultural - why then, in a culture that does not encourage cultural oppression by way of covering women, do you think it is necessary to demonstrate what a good Muslim woman you are by wearing an article of clothing that is so divisive in a modern western society? The word itself literally means ‘separation’ or ‘barrier.’

Op, do you believe that as a white British convert, you are in a position to speak for women from Muslim communities?

In a world that needs so much kindness, courage, charity, fairness and in general concern for others, why do you think God cares about what people wear?

anti I don't have much knowledge and experience of this, but as far as I know there is nothing that specifically states she must sleep in the same room. However, death is seen as a transition, and families have a role in helping the dying person by praying and reading quran etc at this time. The responsibility would be for the whole family, not just the wife.
Yes. She can remarry after his death.

Sorry nono but I don't see how my clothing choices have a negative impact on women in other countries. I understand your concern about women being forced to wear certain clothes. But many of these women may continue to wear hijab out of choice even if not forced to do so.

I wanted to give a general answer to a couple of recurring points. Little girls being forced to. Wear hijab is not something I have come across within my own family, friends or community, so I find it hard to comment on. I have no doubt that the requirement to where hijab starts at puberty. This is clear and not in any doubt.
I also don't feel I can comment on the policies of various Muslim countries that I have never visited. I can just explain my understanding of Islam. And my experiences.

I intend to make the pilgrimage when I'm financially able.

I don't see hijab as divisive. I wear it every day and work in perfect harmony with my non-Muslim colleagues and the general public.

You do realise that headcoverings in any religion descent from ancient Greece where women were covering to distinguish themselves as non prostitutes. It was only the prostitutes that were uncovered to 'show' off themselves to punters. Do you see how insidiously religions have allowed such habits put women in a position to monitor and defend their freedom from harassment? Do you not realize that religious texts throughout different religions have borrowed ridiculous practices from various cultures?

I'm not remotely ashamed of my body, and if I had a daughter she wouldn't be either.

hijabijabi why cover yourself around men then? Can you not see how this objectifies woman in the eyes of men, how this pushes back equality between men and woman, how this gives men (yet again) power over woman. It’s terrible, your choice, but utterly ridiculous and damaging to women.

A woman in Iran has just been sentenced to 20 years in prison for CHOOSING to not wear hijab. The hijab is a global symbol of women’s oppression. OP, you live in England where you say wearing hijab makes you feel happy and free to express your religious beliefs. Those very beliefs are crushing the dreams of your fellow sisters worldwide. So you’re happy sitting in the blazing sun, covered up head to toe while your husband gets to swim in the sea in shorts? Wow. Please read ‘The Wind in My Hair’ by Masih Alinejad and perhaps understand how oppression and hijab go hand in hand.

To the posters who have strong opinions about hijab, thank you for contributing, and I'm sorry you've found my answers so far from satisfactory. I don't feel there is anything more I can say to explain my feelings about it.

@squeelof1 wtf?!

squeelof1 I think because we are fortunate enough to have the right to wear hijab if we want to.

I was told that as my British uniform of shirt, tie, trousers, jacket and hat did not suitably cover me up I would have to wear my long winter coat. In 45 degree heat. This is oppression. As well as being told what they must wear women are whipped, stoned, put to death, segregated, demeaned, deprived of privileges allowed to men that we take for granted such as being able to go to school, choose their partner, drive a car, exercise, etc

By choosing to wear a hijab as a white British woman you are ignorantly appropriating customs from societies where women do not have the freedom to choose. You choose not to see it as divisive, but I would argue that the number of women expressing their unease here about your attire demonstrates that you have chosen to separate yourself from your cultural background in order to uphold the values found in more restrictive societies. In our liberal society it is possible for anyone to be a devout practicing Christian, Jew, Muslim, or pagan without wearing garments dictated by men.

That you have never seen oppression in action, or been subjected to it, or been to a country where it is a nationwide norm, is about as pathetic as me saying I am happy buying Nestle food because I never personally poisoned an African baby, or I am happy buying food with palm oil in because I personally never hacked an orang utang to death. Saying that you personally have never experienced it but you are ok with it because in Britain none of that nasty oppression that goes on elsewhere in the world doesn’t personally affect you is the height of blind ignorance imo.

OP some of the comments on here remind me that some women who wear the hijab face verbal abuse from strangers on the street. Has this ever happened to you? Did anyone step in to defend you, and would you like them to have done?

(As always I'm astounded by the posters on here who think that having a go at a woman for what she chooses to wear and how much/little of her body she wants to cover is somehow protecting women's rights.)

barlott in the 15 years I have worn it, only about 5 times, and just unpleasant commments, nothing to serious.

I've had far more positive than negative comments, from non-Muslims.

back I cover my head because I beleive it's a requirement of my faith, not because women in other countries do it.

Interesting thread. No offence to the OP but It would be even more interesting if somebody who was born a Muslim relays their experience rather than a convert. Particularly family pressures to conform. The OP was brought up in a western way and then converted as an adult - would be interesting to get the perspective from somebody who was born into the religion. (Don’t mean to be rude or downplay her experience, as I say, interesting to read.)