subject: Islam, Hijab Repression, and Modesty [print this page] Islam, Hijab Repression, and Modesty Islam, Hijab Repression, and Modesty
In the recent years, Islamic dress has been emerged as abiding sites of the contention in the relationship between Muslim communities and the State. Specifically, the wearing of Islamic headscarves by women in public places has raised questions about secularism, women's rights and national identity. It has always been seen by the Western feminist as oppressive and as a symbol of a Muslim woman's subservience to men. As a result, it often comes as a surprise to Western feminists that the veil has become increasingly common in the Muslim world and is often worn proudly by college girls as a symbol of an Islamic identity, freeing them symbolically from neo-colonial Western cultural imperialism and domination.
For well over two decades, Muslim women have been positioned in the Australian popular media in opposition to the values of liberal democracy and the feminist agenda. Muslim women, as if the act of "unveiling" will somehow bestow the "equality" and "freedoms" that Western women enjoy. While 'HIJAB debates' occur in various guises in France, the Netherlands, Germany, the UK and elsewhere, questions of gender, race and religion have a particular pertinence in Australia, where a combination of recent events has generated unprecedented public and scholarly attention on sexual violence, 'Masculinist protection', and ideas of the nation. It was against this historical backdrop that the Australian popular media developed an interest in the HIJAB-the traditional veil worn by some Muslim women. The first Gulf War in 1991 marked the beginning of the veiled symbolism in the Australian popular media.
In the Qur'an the hijab is not referred to as an article of islamic clothing for women or men, rather as a spiritual curtain providing it's wearer with privacy. The Qur'an instructs male Muslims to talk to the wives of Muhammed only behind a hijab. The issue of modesty within the Qur'an applies to men and women's gazes, gaits, garments and genitalia. Women are expected to wear jilbabs (cloaks) in public to prevent them from harm. Muslim women are required to wear the hijab in front of any man whom they could theoretically marry. Therefore it does not have to be worn in front of fathers, brothers, grandfathers, uncles or young children. It is also not compulsory to wear the garment in front of another Muslim woman.
The western media does not show the countless western women who have reverted to Islam, adopted the HIJAB, and are happy with it. Born, raised and educated in the west, they experienced freedom and spent life as they wanted. Then they studied Islam and reverted. What did Islam give them that they were missing?
Western think that the belt of freedom is held by them. NO. Islam is first to gave freedom to women. Islam gives women right to vote 1400 years ago, in America it is given in early 1900. Islam gives the right of property inheritance 1400 years ago, but in America laws for the inheritance are were rewritten in 1950's to give right of inheritance to women. How bad the status of women in west? We have given the rights 1400 years ago that the women of west dreams until this generation. It's amazing.
Islamic modesty is interpreted uniquely by each practicing individual depending on their specific beliefs. Some women wear full body garments leaving only their eyes visible; whilst others only feel it necessary to cover their hair and cleavage.
The rules of concealment are generally relaxed for elderly women. It is commonly viewed that they are past the prospect of marriage and therefore may lay aside their outer garments. However, they still must not make a wanton display of their beauty.
