Women and Islam-PBS

This article is about Women and Islam

For women, there are multiple societies in the Muslim community which treat them differently. Since Islam spread around many different countries, those countries and their societies had different traditions. In some countries, women are treated with respect and will have a large role in society because that’s what life was like during ancient history. Especially in Egypt, their history involved having female leaders in charge. Some societies in their ancient history were more male-oriented, so women in those Muslim communities are getting the short end of the stick. Women are treated differently not based on the Muslim community, but based on the ancient history of each country.

In Turkey, women have been starting to cover up their heads more often now. This isn’t necessarily all because of their faith and dress code, but to be connected to other Muslims in different countries. The veiling isn’t just for covering the head, but it’s more of a lifestyle they try to live by. Women are supposed to act pure in the eye of the public. It symbolizes their modest behavior and a lifestyle they have to live by because of the stereotypical mannerism they should live by. This result has an effect also on men through their sexual self-control. Men control their sexuality through how the women cover themselves up. This allows women to live their lives in a somewhat cautious environment and this action shows men that they don’t have to rely on men.

The hijab has been a very popular symbol in the Islamic community with multiple meanings. The meaning of the hijab has changed from symbolizing modesty to now just justifying itself as the symbol with no clear meaning. The hijab has no hierarchy over the concept of modesty, so the hijab has different meanings when it comes to identity. The symbol restricts and explains the identity of Islamic women. The hijab is used to identify who is Islamic, but the hijab has no religious meaning itself, so its meaning is based on different interpretations. The hijab is also seen as a symbol of oppression yet also a symbol of liberation. If it’s used to show modesty, then wearing it will be very enforced from people inside and outside the Islamic community. People assume that if they don’t wear the hijab that they can’t fully be Islamic. The idea of using the hijab for identification is being spread across different point of views, so people might assume the hijab is oppressing women for forcing them to wear something to symbolize who they are and their beliefs. The idea of the hijab means many things, some good yet some bad depending on the individual.

I really enjoyed reading this article because I didn’t understand the importance of the hijab in the Islamic community for women. When I think of the hijab, I just think of it like one is wearing a cross around a neck or having a religious tattoo. It’s just something people show off to express their faith and beliefs. However, the hijab is different because it symbolizes much more than one’s religious beliefs. It symbolizes a lifestyle these women try to represent. It defines not just their belief, but who they are as people in terms of behavior and lifestyle. I learned that some things have hidden meanings behind what the general population thinks of certain objects.