Hijab thoughts

So, even though I am not a Muslim, I wore a hijab (a scarf wrapped around the head, covering the hair and chest) as I went about my shopping today. This isn't the first time I have worn the hijab out... and it has been interesting to study people's reactions to it, which tend to vary based on where I go. A few days ago, I went to the Costco in Reno, and people treated me so much more nicely than when I go there uncovered- it was really quite impressive. Men would open the door for me, women looked at me curiously, but also with a certain respect that I haven't felt from them before. It was also interesting to experience how much differently I felt while wearing hijab compared to when I go out uncovered. I feel quieter while wearing hijab, calmer. I don't care as much about what other men think about me or my looks,, because I am not even looking at them (wouldn't it be weird if some chick in a hijab were staring at you? It just isn't natural!). And, perhaps it is foolish, but I even feel a bit more safe while wearing the hijab. Of course, it is a concern that some people may react in a negative way to my appearace, and so I am watchful for that, but so far, I have recieved no real negative reaction.

The interesting thing was, when I went to Costco in Carson City today, people were more freaked out by the hijab. While in Reno, most people just go about their business and don't give me more than a glance, but in Carson, people stared and stared! It was really quite comical. Nevada is an interesting state!

My motives for wearing the hijab right now? Firstly, I feel that by wearing it, I show honor to my husband. I show everyone that sees me that I am modest and chaste, and I send the signal that I as a person am not to be evaluated purely on the basis of my sexuality. Secondly, it is a social experiment. I just am curious as to how society treats a covered woman. It is interesting to note that the Bible even tells Christian women to cover their heads (a fact forgotten or ignored by people critical of this practice of Islam.). And finally, I just feel like I should. I don't believe that one should give in to every impulse, but if there is no harm done to self or others, then why not? If the Christian God and the Muslim God say that it is good for a woman to cover herself and be modest, then am I not honoring God either way? I believe that God gave us feelings and intuitions for a reason, and so I have decided to just go with it and see what happens. Some day I may decide that this was just a phase, but I believe that I will have been enlightened by the experience anyways. I hate the idea of living life regretting not doing harmless things that I could have done, but didn't do, becuase I thought that it was a "stupid idea."

I know that the ultimate reason to wear a hijab is because "Allah said so." And, if I become a Muslim, then, of course, this will be my main reason. And right now that does play somewhat of a role in my decision to wear it when I go out on adventures in public without my husband. I do not wear it to work. I do not wear it in front of my family (not that I would have to wear it there, anyways, but that is another subject). I don't even wear it every time I go out. Do I feel compelled to wear it more often than I do? Yes, but not by any person (i.e.- my husband, who respects me and my religion, has not asked me even once to wear the hijab, convert, etc. I am learning about Islam for my own benefit.). I believe that God respects me for what I am trying to do. I am doing my best to learn about Him and what He wants from me and my life. If that is Christianity, great. If that is Islam, great. If that is something else that I have not yet discovered, that is OK too. I believe in God, and I would like to hope that God, in turn, believes in me.




Anyways,I decided to do a little hijab reading on the internet tonight. This is a very interesting survey about hijab and people's perceptions about it: http://www.mediacurves.com/Culture/J6652/ReportJ6652.pdf

Another interesting website, www.hijab.com is actually more of a general survey of current Muslim events, rather than just a blog about hijab.

This is an interesting collection of articles about hijab: http://www.jannah.org/sisters/hijab.html