Introduction
Discrimination of Islam women in both Muslim and non-Muslim societal contexts remains a pertinent concern across various settings all around the globe. The fear of Hijab in the American society occurs as one of the most comprehensive means through which Islamic women are stereotyped. The stereotyping of the Islamic Hijab in the American society can be traced may be traced to various events that have taken place in the United States contexts. More importantly, the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centre is perhaps the most comprehensive reason as to why Americans have and continue to harbour intolerance for Islamic women and men (Shirazi & Smeeta 55). Despite the continued stereotyping of the Islamic Hijab, Islamic women have stood tall by not abandoning the Hijab, which occurs as a primary symbol of pride in the Islamic culture. A close analysis if the United States contexts shows that there are various reasons as to why the American society has and continues to harbour fear for the Hijab.
Discussion
Perception that Hijab is a Radical Statement
The first reason as to why the American society has and continues to induce fear amongst Americans aligns with the fact that the Hijab is perceived as a radical statement about a woman’s ill intentions (Yvonne 253). In most cases, the Hijab is taken as a means through which Islamic women pass the message that they have radical political disease. In a nutshell, the Islamic Hijab seems foreign to a significant proportion of the American populations. In fact, some American populations have taken the Hijab to be a symbol that the Islamic women are in grim need of rescue. This tends to frighten a number of American citizens, especially those emanating from North America.
An Islamic Supremacist Agenda
On another note, the American populations have fear for the Hijab because it is often regarded a symbol of Islamic Supremacist Agenda. In various contexts, Islamic Supremacists agenda has been to propel terrorism. Arguably, terrorism has been hypothesized to be closely related to terrorism. This can be attributed to the pertinent notions, which indicate that Islam have the belief that terrorism cleanses them and there are a lot of rewards that emanate from propagating terrorisms. While such notions may seem true, it is of the essence to note that they lack a substantive basis of argument because not all Muslims are terrorists. In a nutshell, women in Hijab are often perceived to be terrorist “spies” and sympathizers (Ahmad 100). This instils fear on the populations and explains why women wearing hijab are highly feared. In the recent past, a woman terrorist suspect duped Samantha Lewthwaite duped “White Widow” has been hypothesized to be the most wanted terror suspect. Therefore, women in Hijab are often feared with the notion that they are a suspect.
Visual Disparity between Inner Character and Outer Appearance
The fear for hijab may also be accredited to the disparity that exists with regards to the manner in which people relate inner character with outer appearance. With regards to this, a significant proportion of American populations does not understand how Islamic women don on Hijab behave. Evidently, a significant proportion of Americans link wearing of hijab with faithfulness or piety (Williams & Gira 269). As such, Muslim women are expected to respect Allah’s commandments and not engage in activities that depict the contrary. This is not the case since in most cases, women in hijab have often been rude, whereas others have used foul language across various settings. Such acts tend to pass a negative message to the Americans; hence, making them develop fear for women in Hijab. Conclusively, the disparity that exists between the acts of women in Hijab and Muslim religion tend to propagate negative notions against women in Hijab. This is perhaps one of the primary reason that explains the fear of Hijab by various American populations.
Resistance to Assimilation
Wearing of Hijab in the United States contexts by Muslim women has often be misinterpreted to mean that such women are not ready to assimilate into the American society. This makes the American populations fear such resistance harboured by the Islamic women. A close analysis of various immigrants into the United States who came from varying religions such as the Chinese immigrants who were Buddhist shows that they have assimilated and adopted American religious beliefs. However, this has not been the case of the Muslims. The resistance to assimilate as depicted by Muslims by wearing Hijab generate resentment from Americans. In a nutshell, Americans thinks that by remaining true to their religion and by continuing to wear Hijab, Islamic women are being rude and perhaps they are hiding something; hence, the persistent fear for the Hijab (Allen 364).
Impose Islam on the Public
The other reason as to why American populations have an innate fear for the Hijab is the fact that wearing of the Hijab as often been perceived as a way in which Muslims are imposing their religion on the public. Worth noting is the fact that Muslim has often been perceived as a violent religion (Shirazi & Smeeta 46). This is because of the fact that various violent acts aligned with terrorism have often been perpetuated by Muslim suspects. It is on this basis that Americas have the feeling that imposition of Muslim religion due to wearing of the Hijab by Muslim women would turn them into Muslims; hence, making them to engage in radical activities associated with terrorism.
Conclusion
Discrimination of women of Islam descent have and continue to be discriminated for various reasons. The fear for Hijab in the American society emanates from the fact that various myths exist regarding Muslims, especially women. In fact, various American populations perceive Islam to be a radical religion that fuels violence against various populations. From this analysis, the fear of the Hijab is based on mythical premises that cannot be approved. As such, there is a need to create awareness amongst the populations regarding the true meaning of Hijab and Muslim religion. Deductively, Hijab has been stereotyped as a tool for propagating hidden agenda, which may impact negatively on other populations.
In conclusion, Islamic Hijab should not be stereotyped based on mere allegations that wearing it means that there is a hidden agenda. Instead, hijab should be considered a form of identity amongst Muslims; hence, should be accorded the respect it deserves. For Muslim women, the Hijab helps them identify themselves as part of the Muslim religion. On a similar note, the Hijab symbolizes that women form Islam religion are principled and live according to the rules enshrined by Muslim religion. Despite this, there is a need to note that fear for the Hijab was precipitated by aggressive actions propagated by men and women of Islamic descent. For this purpose, the fear for the Hijab may be legitimate. Even so, discrimination against Islamic women is the primary factor for the fear that Americans have for Hijab.
Work Cited
Allen, R. (2008-01-01). Undressing Difference: The Hijab in the West. Berkeley journal of gender, law & justice, 23, 208-392.
Yvonne, Yazbeck Haddad. "The Post-9/11 Hijab as Icon." Sociology of Religion 68.3 (2007): 253-III. ProQuest. 10 Nov. 2014.Williams, Rhys H., and Gira Vashi. "Hijab and American Muslim Women: Creating the Space for Autonomous Selves." Sociology of Religion 68.3 (2007): 269-IV. ProQuest. 10 Nov. 2014.Shirazi, Faegheh, and Smeeta Mishra. Muslim Women on the Face Veil (Niqab): A Tool of Resistance in Europe but Rejected in the United States." International Journal of Cultural Studies 13.1 (2010): 43-62. ProQuest. 10 Nov. 2014. Ahmad, Fawzia. "BEYOND THE HIJAB AS LODESTONE." Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion 24.1 (2008): 99-101. ProQuest. 10 Nov. 2014.
