By Sinéad Mercier (Ireland)
This morning I walked into university to attend a conference on the meaning of traditional clothing in the West of Ireland – ‘Threads of Discovery: Cloth, Clothes and Culture’. By some strange and fortunate coincidence, this conference and NUIG’s Malaysian society “World Hijab Day” meeting were in rooms side by side. It seemed decided then, that I would be granted the chance to wear the hijab that day and find out for myself the reality of wearing a piece of clothing truly ‘imbued with meaning’ in not just the West of Ireland, but the ‘Western’ world.
Though at the beginning of the day looking in the mirror felt decidedly strange – my face so prominent without a mess of red hair to hide it – by the end I really enjoyed wearing the hijab. Meeting with kindness, openness and a great sense of humour on the part of NUIG Malaysian and Muslim societies, I felt warm, comforted and had something to catch my crumbs when eating the societies cupcakes! I finally began to see the beauty in the colours and movement of the cloth rather than an imagined stigma. The hijab felt really wonderful, warm and colourful on a cold grimy January in Galway. I was delighted too to find that my fellow MA students were similarly inspired by our lecturer, Nata Duvvury, to wear the hijab in class that day.
Having been subjected to jibes and jokes about redheads for much of my teenage years, as a point of pride I now have a waist length, seldom brushed, auburn mop. Yet I have never endured serious abuse for what was on my head. I’m privileged to be ‘part of the scenery’, fading into an abundant crop of pasty Galwegian redheads. Listening to the kind and funny members of NUIG Malaysian and Muslim societies recount their stories of public and official abuse whilst wearing myself the innocuous object of their persecution brought home to me how unjust and cruel that treatment was.
To be able to experience wearing the hijab was a privilege. I feel that I understand better how women expressing their identity and self must be respected and supported, rather than seen as helpless victims of oppression or a target for violence. I’m grateful to NUIG Hijab day for allowing me to see the hijab for what it is – not a threat, not a tool of oppression – but a reflection of care for others, a love of one’s culture and sense of belonging. There is great beauty in seeking to live your life along guidelines of dignity, love and kindness to others and World Hijab Day’s promise of “Better Awareness. Greater Understanding. Peaceful World” certainly reflect that.