Is wearing a headscarf somehow insulting to muslims?

[BrittaPerry]

Sorry if this comes out wrong.

Quite often in extremes of weather (both hot and cold) I feel more comfortable with my head covered. In fact, I have been known to do it in private anyway. I suppose it is to o with me being a bit weird with sensory stuff and it making me feel secure, but I also think it looks nice (I have some lovely scarves, but I suppose I do tend to buy them in quite asian areas). I also cover my hair when baking and just leave it on. Sometimes it is a hippy style, sometimes it is wrapped round my neck abd covering my hair completely, sometimes just kind of loosely draped on my head and shoulders.

I also quite often wear long flowing dark clothes, mostly because I find them more practical - nobody wants to see random bits of my flesh poking out when I bend over to help the kids.

A couple of people have said I sometimes look Islamic, or like some kind of russian peasant or Amish. Some people have assumed it is some kind of political statement to look traditional Russian.

I honestly don't do this on purpose - sometimes I wear miniskirts and doc martens.

I'm just a bit worried that this is a kind of 'badge' of Islam for many people, and I would hate to offend anyone.

AIBU?

[WorraLiberty]

I don't get it really

I mean jewellers are full of cross and chains but I've never known a Christian to be offended by someone wearing one if they're not religious.

They were just fashionable at one time.

By the same token, I can't see any muslim being offended by someone choosing to keep their head warm with a scarf

[BrittaPerry]

I actually know loads of people really really offended by fashion crosses. That is pretty common ime. Hence why I have never worn one apart from when I actually was Christian.

[worldcitizen]

Your wedding example doesn't make sense at all and has nothing to do with the headscarf and what others might think

[WorraLiberty]

You know loads of people who are 'really really' offended by someone wearing a fashion cross?

One of us is living in a very strange world OP.

[worldcitizen]

And I know lots of Christians, many devout Catholics, Methodists and Baptists and NONE is offended by that...

I said before the headsarf and Muslim thing is an issue in your head, possibly supported by ignorance.

[BrittaPerry]

I would assume anyone wearing a real gold cross or st christopher was christian actually. Why would you wear one if not?

Obviously the goth style ones are different because they are obviously fashion, but I am talking about when I dress exactly like some of the muslim women in my home town.

[peacefuloptimist]

Britta I think it is highly unlikely you would ever offend any muslims because you are wearing a headscarf. It seems odd that you would think that. For what possible reason would they be offended? You may get some of them accidentally greeting you with the traditional Islamic greeting (I have done that in the past to women who I have thought are muslim because they are wearing scarfs ) by saying 'Salamalaykum' to you (which roughly translated means peace be upon you) but if you dont respond they will not be surprised as not all muslims will respond if you greet them in this way. Carry on as you are and if you do ever run in to anyone who acts offended just ignore them and know that they are the one with the problem not you. The headscarf is not patented by muslims.

[BrittaPerry]

I used to attend a pretty full on church tbh. We were banned from anything to do with halloween as it was seen as a form of devil worship. Maybe that has skewed my thoughts.

[BrittaPerry]

Thanks Peaceful :-). That is what I meant.

[AdoraJingleBells]

DDs were given free snood(?) thingies in the UK last year. Can be worn as a scarf, headscarf, hair band etc. we were with their half brother who is a police officer and he told them not to wear it "that way" ie as a headscarf, because it could offend some people. I couldn't help thinking it was a load of bollocks.

Not everyone who wears a headscarf is doing so for religious reasons. Not everyone who doesn't wear one is doing for anti religious reasons. I think you should dress as you feel comfortable.

[WorraLiberty]

I would assume anyone wearing a real gold cross or st christopher was christian actually. Why would you wear one if not?

You answered that yourself - fashion.

[worldcitizen]

The headscarf is not patented by muslims.

And never have they claimed to...Britta is assuming so...

[BadgersBottom]

But how would you know if someone was wearing a cross for religious reasons or fashion reasons? You wouldn't really would you? If you think you would know then you might be jumping to slightly judgey conclusions. Oh wait...............

[BrittaPerry]

I would think the gothic style (ie big and ornate) was fashion, but the little subtle gold ones are like the fish badges and a sign to other Christians. Or at least that was what we were taught at sunday school.

[worldcitizen]

we were with their half brother who is a police officer and he told them not to wear it "that way" ie as a headscarf, because it could offend some people

Yes, more and more rubbish is spread by people every day...that's what Nazis did with the Jews as well, took quite a few years, but they managed to make people belive it's all true....

[BrittaPerry]

We prayed in church to stop the devil, and one of the signs of the devil was people wearing crosses as fashion - it was seen as taking the lords name in vain.

[WorraLiberty]

That's mad

Actually this whole thread is mad

I mean, why would a Muslim wander up to you and speak to you in any language just because you've covered your head with a scarf?

I'm quite sure they've got better things to do.

[LineRunner]

Oh FFS.

[LineRunner]

Madder than mad.

[BrittaPerry]

But then the church also got quite annoyed at crosses with jesus on them, because He Is Risen and so to show him still there was blasphemous.

[LineRunner]

Yes, and they can't be made of ash any more.

[KitchenandJumble]

I can't imagine anyone would find it insulting. I know some fundamentalist Christians who wear headscarves, so it's hardly unique to Muslims.

But the part of the OP I don't get is this: "Some people have assumed it is some kind of political statement to look traditional Russian."

Er, what?

What sort of political statement would that be?

[WorraLiberty]

Which church/religion was this then?