By Jameelah Medina
I know it is difficult for some to understand why a piece of cloth on someone’s head can have so much importance. But the hijab is more than a piece of cloth for those of us who wear it. For me it is a privilege to be able to wear the hijab , and it is a daily reminder of my faith. It is a way for me to be in charge of my own femininity and to make an active decision about what I choose to cover and what I choose to let people see. For a Muslim woman to be forced to remove her hijab in public where men are present is a humiliating and possibly traumatizing experience that she will not soon forget. This humiliation and indignation is the same that a non-Muslim woman would feel if she were forced to take off her shirt and bra and walk around topless in public where men are present. Just as most women feel that their breasts are a private area that is to be covered in public, many Muslim women feel the same way about their hair. The forcible removal of a woman’s hijab should be just as unacceptable as the compulsory removal of a woman’s shirt and bra.
In December 2005, when I was arrested for having an invalid train pass, I was forced to remove my hijab in front of male deputies at the West Valley Detention Center. I felt completely naked. I honestly cannot imagine feeling more humiliated even if they had forced me to remove all of my clothing. What I mean to say is that, for me, wearing clothes without my hijab is just as meaningless as wearing a hijab without any clothes on — either way, I feel exposed. When the officers compelled me to remove my hijab , it was as if they forced me to remove all of my clothing because of the level of indignation I experienced. No woman should have to experience this even if she has been arrested.
In this country, we are supposedly free to practice our religion, and we do not check our federally protected rights at the jailhouse door. Or better said, we should not be forced to relinquish those rights, especially when that right can be so easily protected by having certain policies in place. When I told the deputy that I could not take off my hijab , there should have been a policy that would allow her to check my hair in private. At the airport, I am always taken into a private room or behind a curtain, where 2 or 3 female TSA agents have me unpin my hijab , they check my hair, and I put my hijab back on. But because there was no such policy in place at the jail, I was forced to remain uncovered for approximately 12 hours and to be seen uncovered by male deputies. During this time I was also hyper-aware of the presence of male voices in my proximity, and felt utterly vulnerable.
Once I became aware that my rights had been violated, I did not have any other choice but to seek justice for the wrong that was done; I had to do it for myself and for every other woman who has ever and will ever be put in that unnecessary situation. I am just so thankful that the ACLU was able to take the case and fight to safeguard the religious rights of women. As a result, San Bernardino County will implement new policies that protect women’s rights, and I hope that all jurisdictions will follow this example.
Learn more about my case and the settlement at: www.aclu.org/muslimwomen .
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I'm secular but a modest dresser (for feminist reasons). I'd be humiliated beyond belief and spitting mad if someone made me do that. You have my sympathies.
Thank you for sharing this, and for your bravery in fighting back. Kudos!
Arrested for an invalid train pass? Is that common practice San Bernardino County, or was that some sort of local attempt at racial profiling? How disgusting!
Thanks so much for all of the support.
liv79,
It is not the usual procedure in the county. Some get verbal warnings, some are told to buy a ticket at their destination, some are kicked off the train, and some are cited. I have never heard of an arrest for an invlaid train pass. I am a monthly pass holder for the train since 2003(I ride to and from work, home, and school), but (obviously) I did not have my valid pass with me that day.
Amazing.
Thanks for writing this. I'm really fed up with people associating terrible things with Islam...especially on women's issues. YES Islam needs to evolve but there are plenty of feminist muslims (yes like Assia Djebar) and many others who are trying to make progress in the Muslim communities on behalf of women's issues and gay rights. It seems as though people can't get past the cloth on your head to see the person that you are. If anyone is interested in learning about women in Islam some books I would recommend are Children of the New World by Assia Djebar, Dreams of trespass by Fatima Mernissi and Beyond the Veil also by Fatima.
I am so glad you are fighting for this. People need to understand that women have the right to decide how much or how little they cover, and that forcing you to take of your hijab is the same as forcing me to take off my shirt. My thoughts and prayers are with you!
Thanks for writing this. I know very little about the hijab, and might not have understood the issue if I had read this in a news report without your perspective. Good luck with your fight to protect your rights! If any one of us isn't protected, no one is.
We often talk about respecting a woman's choice of clothing, but what we don't realise is that the flipside of being respected with our short skirt and fishnets is to respect the opposite 'demure' side.
I am glad a woman has posted here about issues that affect muslim females, because we don't get many posts from people of faith about their perspective. Although I for one would be quite happy to walk around topless if everyone else was doing it, that would be my CHOICE and no more valid than choosing not to.
What we need to do is let everyone choose what they can wear, regardless of what they believe. Which means, if they let muslim girls wear hijabs at school, so should non-muslim girls be allowed to wear them or something similar.
Admittedly, there's an exception in certain circumstances for showing the face, which some prefer not to. I feel like that's going a little far in some situations. If I went everywhere with a hood and a full ski mask, I couldn't exactly blame people for getting a little uncomfortable round me. But that is VASTLY different from covering the hair.
I don't know the terms for the different styles of head coverings, but I don't see how anyone could have a problem with any of them except, as Nettle Syrup pointed out, those which cover the face. The other styles I have seen only cover the hair, and there are plenty of other types of garments which partially or fully cover hair that are perfectly acceptable to wear by men and women in just about any setting.
However, I would absolutely not be comfortable in many situations with an individual of any gender going around with their face covered. Everyday interactions like living in a dorm or working at a store with someone whose face is covered would pose particular problems ranging from safety issues to simple communication break downs. It seems pretty clear that there would be no logical concern to simply covering hair making this case a clear-cut instance of discrimination and even as someone staunchly anti-religion, it bothers me a lot that someone was treated like this.
I think a lot of us forget that there are plenty of Muslimahs who want to wear hijab. No one should force a woman to wear one, but they should never take her right to choose, either. It's both a sexist and religiously intolerant act.
Kudos to you for standing up against bigotry! We can all follow your example.
Thanks so much for writing this!! I feel like there's so much misconception about the feminist approach to Islam, the same misconception that applies to the feminist approach to anything. True feminism dictates that women have the same choice as men to live their lives as they please, not that women merely conform to a different standard, set by another, than the previous standard that was set for them. A lot of people think that feminists don't support the hijab, just as they think feminists don't support stay-at-home mom's - neither are true! Feminists support giving women the CHOICE to decide for themselves to wear the hijab. Good for you for exercising your right! Feminism supports giving women the same CHOICES as men - in dress, in adult career (or lack thereof), in religion, in observance of religion. The misconception concerning the hijab is that all women are forced to wear it - I know some are, and that's not right. But since you're choosing to wear it, for reasons that you decided on, with your own free will, no one should take that choice away!
For those of you who have nothing to do tonight in CHICAGO (that is if you are not showing up at GRANT PARK with the rest of the CITY to see OBAMA) and would like more information about women in islam there will be a speaker at the Bosnian Islamic Cultural Center. She is a prof from Sarajevo, Bosnia. She is a Women Studies Prof there and she will be discussing the changing role of women in islam.
Bosnian Islamic Cultural Center
7022 N Western Ave
Chicago, IL 60645
For MORE INFO CALL
(773) 338-4076
For a Muslim woman to be forced to remove her hijab in public where men are present is a humiliating and possibly traumatizing experience that she will not soon forget.
My issue with this is *why* is hair so sacred? Is it healthy to allow something to become so sacred or important that uncovering it would cause trauma? And why do I never see men in corresponding garb? Is only women's hair sacred and to be covered up but men can go free? I don't really mind hijabs but I am curious.
What bothers me is when I see women wearing garments that cover up everything but their eyes. I can't trust a person if I can't see their face. Also, I always wonder why men aren't that covered up. There are many women who dress like that in my city. I also dislike seeing young girls in hijabs, religion should be something that someone chooses and when you're that young you can't choose.
It doesn't matter. Your question is irrelevant to the post, which was about a woman being forced by police to display to men parts of her body which she did not wish to display. Whether those parts are hair or breasts does not matter. Yes, I'm calling you out for concern trolling.
Oh, ok Rebecca, the next time someone posts about a topic I will never ever stray from it again. I was just curious about something but I swear, I will toe the feminist party line from now on.
You don't realize that you went off on a tangent, and then went off on a tangent from that tangent?
Ms. Medina was violated by the police, and you don't have anything to say about that?
I'm honestly more curious about why it was such a big deal. She's clearly upset about it but I didn't understand why.
I understand better but I feel ambivalent about it. Where I live, a guy was recently raped by a radio antenna by the police. I have a hard time seeing showing your hair in the same light.
But please patronize me more, it totally makes me want to engage with you more.
Because she believes that her hair is a private body part, and her decision to cover should be respected.
Nice strawman, dahling. No one's denying that the crime you mention is also horrible. If a woman were forced to display her nude chest to the police for hours on end, would you also think she was being oversensitive?
Because she believes that her hair is a private body part, and her decision to cover should be respected.
Nice strawman, dahling. No one's denying that the crime you mention is also horrible. If a woman were forced to display her nude chest to the police for hours on end, would you also think she was being oversensitive?
Moxie, you are concern trolling. Is it healthy to allow our breasts to become so imbued with significance that uncovering them in public causes trauma? Why do I never see men wearing bikini tops at the beach?
FrumiousB, I actually am genuinely interested. But I totally appreciate being called a troll even though I've been posting here for years. Thanks, that really adds to the conversation.
And I actually *do* wonder that about breasts, as well.
The idea of hijab is not only about the hair. It's about respect. Granted, the OP mentioned her hair specifically, and that's her perspective, but the idea behind hijab as a whole is to command respect from people. The thought process is to cover one's body in order to draw attention to what a woman is saying, thinking, etc, and not her assets. Right or wrong, that's what it is, and I believe, shares some common thought processes with feminism.
I do suggest reading some on the subject before simply stating that you don't like seeing girls wearing the physical hijab before understanding what it's for. Sometimes, for example, girls wear it just because their moms and older sisters wear it. Most scholars agree that it's not required (to the sense that anything is required in Islam-- nothing is can be compelled upon anyone else according to the Quran) until puberty.
Additionally, parents raise children in the best way they know how. I'm sure if you have kids, you'll raise them to be good feminist kids, and kudos to you. But realize that you are also instilling, indoctrinating, impressing (similar words, different connotations) ideals, morals, beliefs in/on them that they may or may not agree with as they get older. Religion is the same. The parents do their best, and teach their kids what they think is right.
If you are interested, I suggest any books by Amina Wadud, a woman who recently caused some waves by leading a congregation in prayer-- a role traditionally reserved for men. Wadud-- a woman who wears hijab-- has written some outstanding books on the role of women in Islam.
Length of posting does not indicate that a person has nothing left to learn. When more than one person calls you out for your comments, you should consider that maybe you were out of line. The reason your question about the "health" is concern trolling is that you are criticizing another culture (for something that exists in your own culture!) under the guise of concern. The wrong was done against Ms. Medina for being forced to expose an intimate body part. The wrong was not done by Ms. Medina for considering that body part to be intimate in the first place. In addition, Ms. Medina was wronged whether you consider that body part to be intimate or not.
If you are truly interested in why Muslims consider hair to so intimate, it would be better to phrase your comments as curiosity without bringing up the "health" of Muslim culture.
I've wondered that exact thing about breasts. Why are they so sexualized that we have to cover them in public but men don't?
I've been curious about why hair is sacred too. I just didn't ever ask because I knew someone would give me shit for it.
Most Muslim women I know who wear the headscarf are actually pretty open to answering questions about Islam for the simple reason that they'd rather educate people than have people assume.
Anyhow, see my above comment. Hopefully it doesn't seem like I'm giving shit to anyone.
That was NOT concern trolling. Wondering about the reasons a religion places value on certain physical characteristics of women in ways which affect the actions of the followers of said religion is a perfectly valid thing to do. In fact, I think it's a very important thing to do within the context of feminist understanding of religions.
It seems like most Muslim women who try to take pride in wearing the Hijab are young-older women who remember pre-Revolutionary Iran, for example, (or many women who are not Arab Muslims-like in the Balkans) have no desire to reclaim modest clothing for feminism. After all, don't we all ridicule conservative Christians for their insistence on modest clothing and women covering their heads in chruch?
@ MoxieHart
"I also dislike seeing young girls in hijabs, religion should be something that someone chooses and when you're that young you can't choose."
I'm sure that there are plenty of Christian and Jewish children who are also raised into a faith without their choice, that is really up to the parents to choose that.
"And why do I never see men in corresponding garb? Is only women's hair sacred and to be covered up but men can go free?"
Actually men are required to wear a head covering as well. Truthfully the hijab question disguises a bigger debate, which is...
Is this religion oppressive to women? And my answer to that is it depends. It depends on family expectations, societal expectations and law. I was raised by a Muslim father, who was pretty religious and for a while I wore a hijab. I wore it as a statement of my faith. After a while I felt that I didn't need to wear it any longer. People were so 'grateful' for me that I 'chose' not to oppress myself. But frankly I never oppressed myself, I didn't want to do my hair, do my make up and so forth. I didn't feel like buying into the beauty system that oppresses the Westernized world so I chose something simple. The reason I stopped wearing it was after the countless times my father was harassed after 9/11 because he looks like an ARAB. I have not worn it since, because I didn't want to draw attention to myself, out of fear.
The problem is that everyone jumps on this issue as if these women need liberation. We do need to get behind Muslim feminists (men and women) to help them do community changes and so forth but WE DO NOT need to do liberating on OUR OWN. The hijab is probably the last thing on the list for the women of Islam, because all they want is an education, maybe to play sports, a good job, a good life, not to be ridiculed for their culture or religion.
I would NEVER say I trust someone less because they are wearing a cross or david's star (because that would make me an anti-Semite). Like I've said before if you have questions about the veil and would like more information instead of just jumping on the 'its oppressive' band wagon read Beyond the Veil by Fatima Mernissi. How about we support this woman for being herself and having the courage to put this up considering the Islamophobia in this country is INSANE.
PS Different cultures consider different parts of the female body "sexual" such as necks, feet, butts and so forth. In the US breasts are sexual whereas other parts of the world, they are just breasts and women can walk around with nothing covering them and it isn't a big deal...so let's not be so ethnocentric and lets expand our view of the world one educational book at a time.
I'm sure that there are plenty of Christian and Jewish children who are also raised into a faith without their choice, that is really up to the parents to choose that.
And I think that's just as wrong. I cringe when I see children wearing signs of religion.
I would NEVER say I trust someone less because they are wearing a cross or david's star (because that would make me an anti-Semite).
Well, I've never seen someone wearing a Star of David that covered their entire face. If they did, I wouldn't trust them because I couldn't read their emotions.
I just want to leave people's liberation to themselves, unless they ask for help, but I have concerns about Islam like I do about Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Scientology. I wish people with these concerns could express them without being accused of being an Islamaphobe etc. Just because I'm skeptical doesn't mean I'm prejudiced.
I think movable type ate my comment. let me try again.
http://www.islamfortoday.com/hijabcanada4.htm
On that page, a muslim woman explains why she wears the hijab and what benefits she feels it conveys to her.
The suspicion of the veil is ethnocentrism masquerading as feminism. There are more pressing issues at stake - like, say, education and legal rights.
Also, Islam has commands for men on the whole-cover-your-bits thing. Under some interpretations of Muslim law, men are rquired to grow beards. This is the deal in Afganistan under the Taliban, as well as in Iran.
She wears a star of David. I wear a cross. You wear a hijab. Whatev.
Thanks for telling your story, Jameelah, and having the courage to fight for justice. I am disgusted at the amount of ethnocentrism and Islamophobia I see in the U.S. and I am glad to have the chance to listen to and read about the many strong women who exist in every walk of life.
Also, thanks for the book suggestions in this thread - I'll definitely have to pick up Beyond The Veil and look at some of the other suggestions.
Thank you Jameelah Medina for writing this. What a brave and fantastic woman you are.
I am with Moxie on this one,
plus sorry but I don't feel
much sympathy for your hijab.
To me there's no such thing
as a feminist Muslim. The
Koran was written by some
man with a lot of female
issues. I read enough of it
and it made me want to throw
up just like most religions
out there are out to suppress
females. You are doing NOTHING
to support the freedom of
females by supporting such a
sick and ruthless faith.
Personal attacks (and that includes hating on people's religions) goes against our comments policy. Just wanted to let you know, Cancergrrrl.
Who the hell do you think you are Cancergrrrl the fucking FEMINIST POLICE? How do you get to decide what FEMINISM IS? How unbelievably ethnocentric of you to say that. Every different culture has different problems and issues to deal with, just because you were not raised into this religion or in a different country doesn't make your beliefs any more right. IF people don't ask for help it isn't your issue to help them. So how about you educate yourself about this issue before you jump to conclusions about Islam or any other religion for that matter. By saying that there are no feminist Muslims you spit on the very men and women who are jailed for talking about women's rights and changing the law. You spit on the women who are trying to WORK with their reiligon and culture to make changes. CHANGES do not come over night. So stop being a Western Elitist and try to understand people come from different places and we should try to accept that.
Several years ago, as a zealous convert to Eastern Orthodox Christianity, I remember the (convert) priest at a (mostly convert) parish stop the services halfway through and quietly tell a female parishoner to put a sweater on to cover her shoulders, even though by just about any standard she was dressed modestly, and it was a very warm summer evening. The point is that shame in the female body is a common thread among zealots in all religions.
I just see a double standard here. Most of us would have no problem ridiculing traditional Catholics and Orthodox Christians who insist on women covering their head and wearing modest clothing in church, as well as having seating segregated by rgender. Whereas we seem to be giving Islam a pass on these things. Is it guilt over our fucking over of the Islamic world not just in the past 8 years, but for the past half century?
Revoke my progessive queer anti-war membership card if you want...
I agree with this comment. I said it in another thread but in liberal communities it seems like Islam gets a free pass. That concerns me.
You are absolutely right. I am anti-religion in general, and that pretty much covers ALL religion, not just islam. Yet if I say something against christian, catholic or jewish practices among a group of progressives or on a blog like Feminising, many people relate, agree, share a story. If I say something about islamic practices, it becomes a racial issue and I'm an evil, bad person who hates someone based on their beliefs. I've also found that most people assume that if you say something negative about religion A then that means you're standing up for, or are a part of, religion B even if you never mention religion B in your argument in either a positive or negative light.
I know it doesn't earn me a lot of cred in the "cultural relativism" crowd, but I believe questioning and being critical of religion and its affects on the overall status of individuals within a society is one of the most important pieces to the feminist puzzle.
good luck with your fight, but i dont think the officers ment to harm you. they have a job to do and they have to do it. but thats easy for me to say, i wasnt the one forced to remove somthing that is so personal and sacred.
I am utterly opposed to the way they treated this woman. Wrong, wrong, wrong. Trodding on your rights as a human being--really sick and unacceptable. I hope there's a lawsuit forthcoming (no wait--I don't, seeing as how that will rile up bigots and Limbaugh-wannabes everywhere).
But, I don't think there's anything wrong with Westerners (of any ethnicity, European or no) questioning Islam as long as they question other religions, too. I say this as someone whose parents came from a strongly Muslim part of the world.
I actually used to be indiscriminately angry (as a young college student fancying herself a radical brown/black rights activist) at Westerners for having the temerity to question aspects of my traditional culture, dammit! "Hasn't the West done enough harm?"
But for several years now I feel that I've progressed to the point that I can question both Western and non-Western traditions and that--surprise!--it's okay for Westerners to do that, too (provided they're not coming from a place of superiority, privilege, or xenophobia).
I'm also very, very cautious of branding people "concern trolls." I'm quite suspicious of this sentiment, as I've seen it thrown around with abandon in a way that stifles polite and thoughtful debate. Interestingly, I posted on a Muslim feminist website a few weeks ago raising what I felt to be thoughtful, reasonable, and respectful concerns not about Islam itself but about Muslim feminists' approach to dialogue with Western feminists. Several people immediately begain railing about "concern trolls," something that surprised me, considering I despise trolls and actively avoid being one by listening and responding thoughtfully to all viewpoints.
The kicker?
The people accusing me of being a "concern troll" were themselves self-identified European-American, non-Muslim feminists.
it's okay for Westerners to do that, too (provided they're not coming from a place of superiority, privilege, or xenophobia).
...but the cultural gap brought about by globalisation means that Western religions get a lot more "coverage" than Eastern ones, doesn't it? Which kind of leads to the fact that the world ends up understanding Christianity etc. better but remains stuck in some half-truths when it comes to other religions.
'm not saying that all Western critics are superiorist, privileged or xenophobic, just that it's rather more likely that they'd lack the cultural understanding/acceptance to critique as opposed to the other way round. (Of course there are xenophobes everywhere around the globe.)
I think this is a difficult one. No-one should feel violated or like they have been undressed in front of strangers. Forcibly removing any item of a person's clothing is an aggressive, bullying thing to do. But this is not just about an aggressive act; underlying what happened is the sexualisation of women's hair and the control of it - this is a feminist issue.
Why should a woman feel so vulnerable when her hair covering is removed? Surely the fear of this vulnerability is a patriarchal tool for controlling women? There is no actual physical reason for a woman to feel more vulnerable without a head covering, as hair has nothing to do with being able to defend yourself in an attack. The vulnerability is purely psychological and is created by a culture/religion which states that females should keep their heads covered as hair is so sexual (and therefore private) it might distract males and lead to unwanted attention or moral judgements. The same is true for breasts in the Western world.
The patriarchy, in order to 'save' women from feeling this terrible vulnerability, offers them the solution - in this case, a hijab. The patriarchal society is thus in control of what women wear and how they behave, while giving women the illusion of choice. Wherease the real solution to stop women feeling like this is equality, a society where there are no gender-specific rules and no-one feels more vulnerable than anyone else.
The male-dominated Muslim world has decided that only women need cover their heads/bodies. This is nothing to do with 'respect' and everything to do with control. Funnily enough, people can understand what a man is saying perfectly well and respond to his personality without being distracted by his 'assets'. Are women therefore inherently massively sexual and men not? No, of course not. Human beings are all equally sexual - the fetishisation of women is merely an instrument of control and this is seen in any society, not just Muslim ones.
It seems to me that feminists are afraid of calling out sexism when it means they could be labelled racist/intolerant of religions and so forth. I feel for the original poster and what she went through, but without an equal society where there is no nonsense peddled about how women's various physical characteristics are sexual/obscene/shameful/need hiding etc, this will continue to happen and the men will stay in control. Choosing what the patriarchy tells you to choose is not a choice!
I agree with a lot of the sentiments in this comment. America is supposed to be a place with freedom of religion, and therefore Medina's religious views should have been respected. The officers probably did not understand the effect that removing a woman's hijab in front of males would have, although ignorance does not justify their actions.
On the other hand, if the question of feminism arises, I am predisposed to be critical of any patriarchal religion, whether it's Islam, Judaism, or Christianity. I dress modestly myself, but the truth is that there is a double standard for women and men, and having a female best friend who was subjected to a subservient status under a Muslim father, I can only question the sexist connotations of a woman's body being held as more sexual than a man. I do not believe any woman should be forced to dress or believe anything, but I don't think it should be considered racist or ethnocentric to question some Islamic practices, when I also question all patriarchal religions. I suppose you could say the hijab just makes Muslim women stand out more.
No one should be discriminated against based on their religion, but neither should one be labeled a "troll" or "racist" if concern for our sisters causes us to not hold religion with the most positive light due to its subjugation of females.
Excellent comment. So much more tactful and comprehensive than I ever manage to be. You summed up my thoughts perfectly.
Thank you, earthling, for phrasing the discussion of the sexualization of women's bodies in multiple cultures in such a way as to avoid trivializing the violation felt when one is forced to show an intimate body part.
Some would say the makeup, hair removal, hair dye and hair cuts, loosing or gaining weight, wearing the 'right' clothes so women can get the attention of some man is demeaning to us. If that is so then why would we want her to take off her hijab to 'fit' into our oppressive(ooops I meant progressive right?) society? This is about HER CHOICE. She can take care of herself, she is not helpless like we make it sound. But if she needs help, she'll say so, then we can stand behind her when she does need help. The westernized world has done enough "HELPING/Forcing our beliefs and culture onto other cultures".
It IS possible for someone to be consistent in their opinions on this. In other words, I agree with what you say about the "makeup, hair removal, hair dye and hair cuts, loosing or gaining weight, wearing the 'right' clothes." I totally agree and I am in no way blind to problems in western ("my") culture. I talk about it probably 10 times as often as I talk about other cultures simply because I live in it, witness it first hand and understand it more. I will never have that same understanding of another culture, but that doesn't mean I can't have ANY understanding, or, perhaps more to the point, that I can't or shouldn't seek such understanding using the same skepticism with which I examined my own.
Essentialist arguments for feminism are part of the reason why I never considered myself a feminist in the normal sense of the word, but everything I have tried to stand for in my life at any given moment has come from a deeply feminist/womanist place within me.
I know some people look at me and all they see is a woman who is oppressed, forced to cover, subjugated, brainwashed, etc. I have met women who consider themselves feminist but cannot see that their attachment to cultural imperialist views color how they see me and my struggles.
There are femenists in all religions and cultures whether they label themselves such or the label is placed on them. I would be crazy if I argued that there is no patriarchy within my religion (or any religion for that matter). Over my lifetime, I have always searched for my inner truth. I don't have blind faith and I am not a sheep. I analyze and consult my heart in all matters, including religion. At the end of the day and to the dismay of some, if I encounter conflict between my religion and my heart of hearts, I always follow my heart.
I have gone through the process of rejecting the hijab as a tool of patriarchy, accepting it for the wrong reasons, and finally accepting it after a series of noetic experiences. The fact that a woman's reasons for wearing the hijab is debatable among progressive women saddens me. Femenism is not a box and the way in which it is practiced cannot be contained within limited definitions. There is not litmus test for femenisml; however, for many Muslim women, their feminist perspectives are usually validated when they have taken off the hijab as proof of their solidarity in the feminsit cause.
Rootedwillow brings up an interesting point that feminist Muslim women I know discuss among ourselves. I choose the hijab for many reasons, but for now I want to highlight the feminist ones. My hijab rejects this mainstream society's standards of beauty and acceptance. While my hijab just looks like an act of religious conformity, it is also a subversive act of opposition.
I could easily argue that I am truly the feminist because I'm not on crash diets, getting plasic surgery, buying the latest to-die-for makeup kit, or dressing to impress. But this would be so ignorant and shaped by a limited view because 1) it would assume that when a women does engage in these things that it is only for the pleasure of men, 2)I take the place of a potential oppressor of another woman by essentializing, thus limiting the definition of feminism, and 3)it is just silly.
It is healthy to question Islamic practices and all practices for that matter. It is also healthy to know what spectrum of Muslim women have to say. My father is Muslim and his mother was Muslim. Her husband was Christian and he beat her. I could use this to illustrate a point about Christianity, but that would not be fair at all and it's not something I would ever do. These are the types of dangerous stories that are used to represent the whole of a people. Violence (in all its forms) exists in every religion and in every culture and nation where men exist.
The deputy knew the importance of hijab to me because on the long trip to the jail, he asked me and harassed me about it. He knew VERY well, which is why he made it a point to stare at me once my hijab was removed. This lawsuit was to prevent this from happening in the future. The ACLU and I succeeded.
I hope I have answered some questions and given a better understanding of my perspective. I don't represent Islam or Muslim women, so another Muslim woman might have something else to say.
Thank you for supporting my choice to cover and my decision to file the suit. Thank you for the great questions and discussion.
Thank you for sharing your experience and your reflections with us, and I wish you the best of luck with your lawsuit.
Salaam (Peace)
As a feminist for most of my life (even before I knew that I was) and an African-American hijabi I don't feel any need or desire to defend my choice to anyone. Period. Although I cannot say that I feel naked without hijab I know a number of Muslim women who would have felt as you felt . I am sorry that you were violated in this manner.
I would also like to address the assumptions about Muslim women and men's dress that were made by a few people. It seems that many people have allowed media impressions to color their understanding of the "forced" unfair, patriarchal veiling of Muslim women while men flaunt around free and naked. I just attended a prayer service where men were dressed in long gowns, some even had their hair covered with kufis others with long material resembling hijab. Many of these Muslim men wear long shirts and clothing everyday. My husband is a Muslim man who covers his hair every single day of his life. This is not to be an apologist for codified understandings of hijab that unfairly impact women but to express to you all the varieties of practice among Muslims.
The issue to me is not about the validity of hijab. As a person of color, with plenty of unwanted experience with racism and with how racism plays into policing in this country, the issue for me is what happens to people once they are put under arrest. Why do certain rights no longer extend to them? What type of processes occur that dehumanize them and take away fundamental rights? In this age of torture, of Abu Gharaib, Guatanomo and the ever expanding prison industrial complex we need to ask pointed questions about why the male officers sought to gaze upon Jameela so intensely. With growing hysteria about Muslims (particularly with the fear of what Muslims women might be hiding underneath their clothes) I find the actions committed against Jameela to be unwarranted and a violation of her human rights.
Honestly, concerns regarding a woman's individual beliefs/self-chosen beliefs are inappropriate. These are all individual, and unless there is abuse or coercion involved, let her choose her own path.
Religion is religion; it is not supposed to make sense and is never as progressive as we would like it to be...BUT...when you are a part of a religion, in the United States, you have made a choice that is your own. We are free, as citizens, to decide what we wish to believe, even if it means following a religion run by oppressive men. She should have been allowed a female attendant to remove her hijab and to be kept away from men if she wanted that. It is her choice as an individual American, not as a Muslim or even a woman.
That is the beauty of the American way--the right to make individual, autonomous decisions about your own life. Who you expose any body part to is part of that; just look at the Amish. As feminists, this is what we have striven for, this ability to decide what is right for ourselves. It shouldnt even fucking matter what religion she is or which man created the thing, it is personal and none of your damn business. She shared to try to achieve an understanding and to relate an injustice to us all.
"Questioning" religion is an individual act of philosophy and has nothing to do with this except as a vehicle for her discrimination. And if you wonder why hair (or anything) can be sexualised, you need to take anthropology and sexuality courses posthaste, because that sounds completely uneducated.
Sort of useless comment, but I wanted to thank you for writing this, as I personally found it very helpful.
These comments make me sick.
You all claim to be 'accepting', but then you go and attack a woman for living her life how she wants to, which is one of the THE BASICS OF FEMINISM.
Maybe because I'm religious (and a Feminist, Liberal, Pro-Choice and Anti-Homophobia OMFG) I understand this a lot more then many people here. Still, this is no excuse for your BIGOTRY.
I respect Atheism, you respect Religions.
There were a few offensive comments and many positive comments as well as some relatively civil debate. You paint with a wide brush.
I thought the same thing when ely's comment appeared under spiffykt's nice 'thank you' note.
Sorry, I was generalizing. There's many nice notes, of course. I just got steamed up at the way many of these posters were attacking Ms. Medina.
The muslim womans use of hijab and the western womans frenzy over her appearance are just two different approaches to adjusting according to the mans point of view.
The hijab started as a means for the woman to avoid turning men on sexually, to be heard and seen as a human instead of as an object of sex, to avoid infidelity between non-married couples. Even though it is now just a religous symbol for many, thats how it started. Just like it has been in the christian and the other patriarch-religions. Cover the woman up - so the man doesnt get horny, basically.
And for secular western women: we also adapt after the male eye, but in the opposite way. WE are meant to chase his sexual approval, instead of trying to avoid it. But still, if we succeed in getting his sexual approval, he easily loses respect for us.
I think feminism should be about getting respect WHATEVER - whether the man gets a sexual reaction from our presence or not. And he should take responsibility for his own bloody reactions. If he gets turned on by looking at my butt, or catching a glimpse of a strand of hair under the hijab - it is HIS responsibility. Not ours. If it is an emotion of shame to him - well then it is his shame. I dont give a damn, it is not my respnsibility to either chase the mans sexual approval OR try to hide to avoid it.
And he has no right to blame me, or lose respect for me, for HIS sexualization of me!
If I get turned on by the wrong guy - I dont see that guy as the problem, or that he is a slut not worthy of my respect, I take responsibility for my own reactions.
Like people have been saying before: why do we feel naked when our breasts are exposed, why do muslim women feel naked when stripped of the hijab in public (which was really violating...) - well, its because we have internalized the sentiment that if we dont cover *whatever body parts the men of our culture thinks we should cover* then we know that we are SEEN as naked, TOO exposed to earn respect, showing TOO much for the men to keep their fingers for themselves.
Its like a hidden threat - expose your breasts/hair and you have only yourself to blame if you get violated by men.
Which is bloody insulting to most men too. Most men I know (christian and muslims alike) will NOT rape a woman just because her hijab or bra is taken away.
Phantasma,
I think that you do make interesting points about the extent to which women are intended to be responsible for a man's indiscretions and aggression. As a Muslim woman I understand that I can never be held responsible for another human's actions-whether I am veiled or bare breasted.
Yet, I think your narrative conflates contemporary issues of sexuality with the reasoning behind what many muslim women(not all) consider to be a divine mandate to cover.
One of the problems that I have with an analysis like yours is the extent to which it produces a narrative that refuses individual agency and that relies on a type of internalized false consciousness. ("I think that what I'm doing (covering/dressing sexy is good but I'm really fooling myself") I think that motivations for doing something are too vast for this type of gross assumption.
As a believing Muslim women I cover for a number of reasons. You write that somehow after the initial typical patriarchal reasons the hijab became a symbol. Well within the Qur'an it also was a symbol as many of us interpret an ayah (verse/sign) that tells us that we should wear the scarf to be recognized as Muslim women in the public sphere to have cultural and symbolic meanings in regards to hijab.
Most importantly, we read it in the context of divine guidane with the understanding that, yes the Qur'an was revealed in a patriarchal society but that our unique Creator, who is not father, but a genderless unique force, guides us. There are things within the Qur'an that will go beyond our understanding but we must try our best to understand the signs in it, within our own bodies and around us in nature. For these reasons the wearing of the hijab takes on a meaning that is tied directly to our own relationship with the Creator. This is where faith comes into the picture and where it becomes difficult to have dialogues with those who do not have the same type of personal relationship to our traditions, or intellectual understanding of our texts. It takes more than Bullock or Mernissi to know what gender means in Islam.
That being said I still support and don't question Jameelah's feeling of nakedness and violation when forced to show what she has chosen to cover. As I stated earlier I find it interesting that we are not talking about the racism of policing in this country and how this is translating into the treatment and criminalization of Muslims and our symbols.
It may be that it is easier for many of us to put this into our typical categories of patriaarchy and gender without attention to how people are racially othered in our discourses of citizenship.