Unwrapping the Headscarf: What is the role of the Muslim hijab in America today?

As a white female coming from a predominantly white rural town in southern Rhode Island, I have had very little experience with cultural diversity. The racial homogeneity of my high school never really bothered me until I arrived at college, where I have met people who hail from all around the United States and the world. There are people here with last names I certainly can’t pronounce, religions I have never even heard of, and all manner of worldviews that I hope to learn from. In this Anthropology class I have elected to research the Islam religion and, in particular, the tradition within it of women wearing headscarves. From what I have already observed, the headscarf (known in Arabic as the hijab) is an integral part of the Muslim religion; it keeps women modest and prevents men from lusting after their physical attributes. Before arriving at Wheaton I had never known any Muslim people at all, and I know very little about the religion itself, as I was raised Catholic. Throughout this project, I intend to conduct research—both bibliographical and fieldwork—to attempt to explain why Muslim women in 21^st-century America still wear the headscarf. The mission of the project was to pick a cultural practice that does not make sense to me yet does to those who practice it. Hopefully, I will employ the anthropological methods of cultural relativism and participant observation to justify these women’s actions. I should briefly define these terms, as they will be integral to my studies and to my readers’ interpretations of this blog. Firstly, cultural relativism is the process by which an anthropologist assumes that another culture’s practices (while seemingly illogical to the researcher herself) make sense to them. Already I am employing cultural relativism when I think about the hijab. It makes no sense to me to cover my hair, yet these Muslim women must do it all the time. As I begin my research, I must position myself from their perspective and realized the significance of wearing the hijab. Secondly, participant observation is the main process by which anthropologists conduct their research. It is the act of spending time amongst the group one is studying to truly immerse oneself in their practices and lives, ultimately to achieve further comprehension. I have found here at Wheaton a friend, Rasheeda Abdul-Musawwir, who practices Islam and is willing to help explain to me why she wears the scarf when few of her peers do. Moreover, I realize that the subject of religious practices can be a sensitive one, especially in this age of hyper-attentiveness to political correctness. With this blog I hope not to convey bias but simply to explore a culture other than the one I was raised in. I would appreciate any civil discussion on this blog, and insight from experts or people with firsthand experience with the hijab would be greatly appreciated.