By Kyla McRoberts (USA)
Last year, World Hijab Day was a sociology class project for me. It opened my eyes to many things. For instance, the first time I ever wore Hijab, I was *spit* on by an Amish woman in my southern small town. This reaction shocked me, and also made me realize how bad the stereotypical label weighed on my Muslim friends’ shoulders.
No one should have to experience this type of hatred, especially in a normal wall-mart everyday setting. When the woman spit on me, I just brushed it off. The symbol I was wearing, my hijab, reminded me to be kind, “I’m sorry you felt the need to do that, I hope you have a blessed day ma’am” I smiled, and walked away not offended. Rather empowered because her facial expression changed. I know that day, at that time, someone’s stereotypical view was changed. It was through my act of kindness and her rudeness, that did it.
I was raised in a very loving amazing Christian family, but I was always taught to pray to God. God alone. Therefore, I can’t really say I was raised like the ‘normal’ Christians. I never prayed to Jesus as a child, nor worshiped him. Yes, I loved Jesus. But not the way I had loved God. And as a Christian that was very confusing to me throughout my entire life. And this is how I found my religion, this is how I found Hijab, and this is how I found my “Freedom.”
Freedom, through a project, that opened my eyes to the empty answers I had been seeking. I’ve never felt like I had belonged, I never had the same morals as my friends. I even believed differently than my religious friends. I didn’t even fit in there. And when I learned about Hijab, and learned about what the real Islam was about, I began to feel like I belonged, this was right.
I felt joy, I felt happiness and I felt confidence. I later on began to feel like Islam was the path for me. I later made the choice to convert. But like I mentioned before, the area I live in, has made this extremely difficult for me. I can’t have a normal day in Hijab. There is no normal day without the gawking stares of others. I’m constantly watched and viewed by curious eyes, I am analyzed and judged. A walking pulpit, a walking label. And this weighs heavy on anyone’s shoulders.
I admire the beautiful women who are strong enough to wear Hijab daily, to change a stereotypical label, to show and prove the true colors of Islam. That is beautiful, and I support world hijab for this very reason alone. To admire and respect the strong women who do this. And to bring awareness, for freedom of choice! There are so many reasons to do world hijab day. Whether it be to support women’s rights, whether it be to experience the feeling, or for religious views. There are so many reasons to support world hijab day. I wouldn’t even know where to start mentioning them.
But as for me, I wear Hijab occasionally. Nonetheless, the urge to wear it daily is overtaking me. It’s a burning desire, a passion, a need.
Supporting our Religious choice to freely wear Hijab, supporting the fact that it is our choice as women to do so if we please. Supporting the women who want to make this choice!
Join me on World Hijab Day Feb 1st, Support Hijab!
If you’d like to talk to me my email is kristy_fleming716@yahoo.com and I may not face as many challenges as you do but I know how you feel. I’d love to hear if it ever got better in the area you live in. Mine I don’t see any other girls wear hijab and if I do it’s like 1 in a random store massive 2 times a year. My area is not used to hijab. I have not converted yet but am thinking to. I have no religion so this is new to me. But I wear mine everyday anyway and have been for a couple months. Even though I’m not converted I feel it’s right. My husband introduced me to Islam, he’s from Jordan. I know the stares you speak of, I get them daily but it passes. At my work it was hard at first. They’d point and laugh, or stare or say what the hell is that thing on your head. I’ve even been told by my best friend that I’m stupid and I look ridiculous. So I hope to hear from you inshalah my sister. Allah ybarik feki.