Women Who Wrap

Statement of the issue
The issue that we [group four] researched was Muslim women who veil. Common misconceptions associated with Muslim veiling, make it a major feminist issue in today’s society. Muslim women who veil, do so by wearing a headscarf, traditionally known as a hijabs. The word hijab in Arabic actually means “to conceal.” While some view veiling as a sign of women’s oppression and others merely view it as a religious symbol, all of the misconceptions deserve to be clarified. Whether Muslim women veil for religious or political reasons the controversy around the issue is actively affecting Muslim women all over the globe. Veiling is an important feminist issue, primarily because it is a tradition that has been under attack for decades. It is an issue that even “feminist” have attacked as a form of oppression or domination. All muslim practices have received increased attention in the United States since 911, but veiling in particular, has been at the center of feminist debate. "Western" notions have insinuated that muslim women who veil, do so because they have no choice in the matter. This is something that feminist should spend a great deal of time and energy defending.


Purpose of the research
The purpose of our research was to understand why muslim women choose to veil and to hear what they have to say to people who claim that veiling is somehow oppressive or demeaning. As a group, we hoped to get an overall better understanding of how this muslim tradition is not only liberating, but how it is an individual choice that is different for every woman, according to her personal beliefs and experiences. Every member of our group was present for every interview. This was necessary primarily because we all took notes, which helped us catch every single response. We were able to get women of different ages, from different regions and with different cultural backgrounds. This was something that was very important to us. Our reason for seeking diversity is that we expect these differences to influence these women’s reasons for veiling.

Abeer (1st interview)
The first person we interviewed was Abeer. Abeer was a Muslim woman from Egypt with a heavy foreign accent. When asked to be video taped, Abeer, like the rest who followed, did not want to be video taped. It became obvious to us that Abeer was a very religious by how she dressed. On her head she wore a hijab, and the rest of her body was covered with clothing. She had on a long sleeved shirt that covered her arms and a long skirt that covered all of her legs. Abeer told us that she was a very religious woman which is why she dresses the way she does. She said that she did not think different of anybody who did not practice her religion or of the American women that do not cover their body. Abeer said the way she dresses is influenced by the Qur’an and not forced upon her by the men of her religion.

Rameela Rizvi, Raneem Rizvi, and Afrah Aman (2nd Interview)
After completing our first interview, Casey, Elizabeth, Megan and I were gathered around a picnic table behind the Islamic Center. We were discussing how to conduct our next interview when a group of three young girls exited a minivan and began to walk toward the center’s back door. Megan, always gung-ho, greeted the girls and asked them if they would like to answer some questions for us. I called to Megan that they should ask their parents’ permission. Once the girls were given the go-ahead by their parents, we began the interview. However, as was the theme at the Islamic center, the girls’ parents did not want them to be filmed or photographed. Megan and I stood among them by the back door to the center. The three girls were named Rameela Rizvi (13), Raneem Rizvi (11), and Afrah (11) Aman. They all seemed eager to talk to us, and each of the three wore a hijab. We asked, “Why do you personally choose to wear your hijab?” Rameela answered, “It’s part of our religion. Wearing it makes you closer to your religion.” Raneem agreed.“It makes me more comfortable when I pray."

Shamaila (3rd Interview)
Our third interview was with a women named Shamaila. Shamaila is forty two years old and the mother of Rameela. She moved to the United States from Pakistan when she was thirty years old with the hopes of raising her children here. Shamaila was more than willing to speak with us, unlike many of the other women at the Islam Center. It seemed as though, she was eager to help people have a better understanding of why muslim women choose to veil and wear hijabs. When we asked Shamaila why she personally chose to wear her hijab, she explained that it is compulsory, meaning it is required by Islamic law. She was very matter of fact about it, stating that she knew her whole life that she would veil. Never questioned it and never second guessed the decision.


Conclusion
After conducting our interviews, we have ascertained that Muslim women (or our sample of Muslim women) do not see their hijabs as a form of oppression. It was the stance of all of our interviewees that wearing a hijab is a choice that a woman is free to make. Furthermore, all of our interviewees expressed the opinion that Muslim women who do not wear hijabs should not be treated any differently than those who do.


Group Reflection
This project was very interesting, yet somewhat difficult. First of all, finding three muslim women, in Athens, who aren't students proved to be a challenge from the very beginning. Once we found the Islamic center, it went from being logistically difficult to ethically complicated. We understood we were entering a holy place of worship and we wanted to be as respectful a possible. Once we found the women we wanted to interview, we discovered they were rather closed off and reserved, from not wanting to be photographed or video taped to not wanting to us in their actual prayer room. We understood their precautions, and felt like they loosened up and held back less toward the end of our interviews. We recognized this project as an opportunity to communicate and inquire with real muslim women and we appreciated getting our responses first hand.