Western Conception of the Hijab as a Symbol of Feminine Oppression

Western thought, and in particular the rise of the feminist movement in the twentieth century, has given rise to the notion that Muslim women are forced unwillingly to cover their heads. This causes much anti-Islam sentiment projected from the West to the Mideast, where Islam is one of the most prevalent religions. Many Western women feel sympathetically towards their Islamic counterparts, who cannot enjoy the same freedoms to show one’s head to all of society. I too accepted this attitude for, like those who had told me about this practice, I had never had the chance to ask a Muslim wearer of the hijab exactly why she did that. Personally, I enjoy wearing my hair down, and I thought that only an oppressive, male-dominated society would prohibit other women what I perceived to be a fundamental right. Yet upon meeting with Rasheeda, I came to realize that the wearing of the hijab is often a personal choice. While it is strongly suggested by the proponents of Islam as a manifestation of modest dress, it is not required. Indeed, “[i]n France, just before the law [prohibiting the wearing of headscarves in public schools] was passed, only 14 percent of Muslim women polled wore the hijab, although 51 percent declared they were actively practicing their religion” (Scott 3). However, the subject does remain controversial. Rasheeda was given the option to wear the hijab, and embraced her religion by choosing to do so. Yet Marjane Satrapi, the author of The Complete Persepolis, had no choice in the matter, as the Iranian government insisted that she wear it to comply with the law. Ultimately, the decision to wear the hijab is flexible in some places and mandatory in others, thereby creating an international spectrum of its status as a symbol of oppression.