Oppression or Aggression: How Muslim Women Feel About Veiling

For the past few weeks, our English class has been discussing the nation of Iran as it pertains to the book Reading_Lolita_in_Tehran. Veiling is an important aspect of Islamic culture, and my curiosity about women's decision to either wear the veil or abstain from covering themselves sparked my interests in how these women's choices affect their mental health. There are two very strong arguments that can be made when it comes to veiling.

Many people, both Muslim and non-Muslim, see veiling as a symbol of religious devotion and modesty, while countless others consider the veil to be a symbol of oppression and is often times associated with terrorism (especially in America). I watched a video about a Muslim-American woman who chose to wear the niqab of her own free will. In the interview, Hebah Ahmed discusses the various negative reactions and verbal abuse she has gotten from non-Muslim Americans. I, as well as many people, would consider Ahmed's situation straining on her mental health. However, as Ahmed states, "people are just staring because they're curious, because they don't understand. It's not because they're scared or hateful, it's because they simply don't understand." I think Ahmed approaches negative encounters with grace and bravery, both qualities suggesting that she is strong in her beliefs and in her decision to veil herself. In a later story, Ahmed recalled the time she bought bleach at the store and someone accused her of trying to build a bomb. The negativity and ignorance of so many Americans like the one Ahmed encountered really irks me. Since Islam is a minority religion in America, there is a definite lack of understanding the religion. One of Ahmed's goals was to educate and make people aware of the Islamic practices and why many women choose to wear some sort of veil. Not every woman would be able or willing to turn such hatred and ignorance and transform it into tolerance that will strengthen the mental health of many Americans. Hebah Ahmed, in my opinion, is an extremely powerful Muslim woman worthy of praise for her efforts and bravery.

On the other hand, women like Azar Nafisi, author of the memoir Reading Lolita in Tehran, see the veil as an attempt to oppress Muslim women. Even after many countries like Iran created laws requiring all women to cover themselves with some form of veil, women like Nafisi refuse to comply with the rules. They believe that being forced to veil themselves is symbolic of women losing their rights and having to submit to the will of men. Many also claim that having to dress modestly prevents them from being able to express themselves freely through their choice of clothing. All of these arguments can take a heavy mental toll. They claim that being forced to wear something they don't want to is a violation of their freedom to express themselves. Many also view veiling as a way for preventing unwanted attention from men, but some see the veil as a way of saying women must not reveal their beauty.

It is impossible to say that either argument is right or wrong because there are such strong opinions on both ends of the spectrum. However, I must say that I commend any woman who goes against the cultural norm, justifies her actions, and stands up for what she believes is right for herself.