Within the Middle East, there are distinct boundaries that are formed by culture. For example, women must wear the hijab in public and serve their husbands. Women of this culture are caught in between two sets of moral values, these cultural ones and their personal values. The cultural values form morals for what is expected of women in their society, while their personal values form morals that cater to what they believe in. However, these values may not always be competing. Women may have the same cultural and personal beliefs, as constant exposure to certain cultural values may influence one’s personal values as they age. Throughout Middle Eastern literature, authors express the battle between the modern trend of following personal interests …show more content…
The majority of the Middle East is apart of the Islamic religion. People usually grow up with the same religion as their family. Their culture influences their decisions and even their environment. Since people grow up with Islam, they become accustomed to its practices and stay true to their faith. Along with cultural values, their religion also becomes a personal value. They believe in its teachings and have a moral decision to stay apart of it. The hijab is a great example of how morals can be impacted by both cultural and personal values. The hijab is expected to be worn outside of the house in Islam and is worn as a moral choice. Some people believe that the hijab oppresses Muslim women, although the majority who wear it actually enjoy it. In an article written by Michaeleen Doucleff from Nation Public Radio, it states, “So wearing the hijab can be very liberating for some women, she says. It allows them - and others around them - to focus on their minds, not their bodies” (Doucleff 3). It is a common cultural value for women to wear the hijab, but it is also a personal value in a way where women are more appreciative of their bodies and don’t have to meet society's standards to be beautiful. From Behind the Veil supports the fact that the hijab can be impacted by both cultural and personal values. Siham is confronted by a man who she flirts with but without revealing her identity using the hijab. She is able to hide her sins from society but at the cost of staying under the law of Islam by wearing the hijab. “You black shroud, you know how I despise you and make use of you to keep him apart from me...I love you because you help me to enjoy my life in a way that only those who wear the veil can appreciate” (Ayyoub 467). When society looks at Siham, they see her innocence because of the hijab, helping her manipulate them so she can express her true self and sin without others knowing. She uses the
For some women wearing a veil is not something that is forced on them but rather a choice of their own. Martha Nussbaum and Maysan Haydar are both authors that try to explain their reasoning that veiling isn't an oppressive tool used against women. Martha Nussbaum's article “Veiled Threats”, is a political and philosophical take on why banning the burqa is a violation of human rights. On the other hand Maysan Haydar’s article “Don’t Judge a Muslim Girl by Her Covering”, is a more humorous and personal take on why veiling shouldn't be as judged or stereotyped. Though Nussbaum and Haydar have equal goals this essay is being used to understand the main argument, claims and whether or not each article has any weaknesses.
Furthermore, Haydar expresses that she has been able to embrace the modesty in veiling and that it allows her to be seen as a whole person. She addresses the fact that “many Americans see veiling as an oppressive tool forced on Muslim women by the men in our culture” (414). Yet, Haydar informs the readers that veiling isn’t specific to the Islam culture and is also a choice for many women. She even points out that many other religions promote and advocate for modesty in
Gender discrimination and male superiority are most visible in Saudi Arabian culture because “inhabitants of the region where the Arabic language predominates are, despite their diversity, bound into a singular cultural unit with a particular gender system” (Tucker VII). If one group of Arabic individuals hold misogynistic views, or think that males are the superior gender, it is very likely that other Arabic individuals will as well. Individuals of the Arabic culture, regardless of their location, share a particularly conservative and traditional set of moral beliefs the same way Christians from America may share similar beliefs with Christians from Europe. One belief most Saudi’s have in common is their “conservative view toward women” (Al-Mannai, 82). Middle Eastern individuals know what behaviors to expect from each gender, and what each gender should and should not do.
The author of this essay thinks it is ridiculous that women cannot wear their hijab in certain places around the world. Many people think the hijab is not necessary. However, it is part of what Muslim women believe. She explains in her essay, "So next time you hear about a hijab ban think about your best pair of jeans or your faded t-shirt with the logo of your favorite band" (Fakhraie 461). A hijab is just like every other piece of clothing that covers up the body. It can be part of their religion, or they can wear a hijab just because they like how it
Professor Leila Ahmed, active Islamic feminist, in her article “Reinventing the veil” published in the Financial Times assumes that there is a connection between “advancement” and veiling, which means that unveiled women are advanced and vice versa. In addition, she supports that it led to increasing rate of violence. She questions why women wear veil, that is considered as “symbol of patriarchy and women’s oppression”. However, research changed her position towards wearing veil. Firstly, she states that wearing veil was essential for women, because it could be beneficial and influence to how people treat women, in terms of job, marriage and free movement in public. Secondly, her assumption was explained while interviewing women, who stated
In the book, Women in the Middle East, a Saudi Arabian proverb states, "A girl possesses nothing but a veil and a tomb" (Harik and Marston 83). The key words, "veil" and "tomb" lend evidence to the fact that many Middle Eastern women lack identity symbolized by the “veil” and lack the right of ownership except for their veil and the tomb. This statement further enforces the notion that many women in the Middle East are expected to serve and tolerate the oppression of the men in their lives throughout their lives on this earth. Moreover, it confirms that many of these women do not get the opportunity to obtain education, join the work force, and even participate in the political affairs of the country. This arrangement further helps the Middle Eastern men to view women as their properties, servants, or even as slaves. Ultimately, there are three main reasons why Middle Eastern men engage in the act of oppressing their women.
According to Doucleff, “‘wearing the hijab eliminates many of the hassles women have to go through — such as dyeing their hair,’ she says. ‘For example, you're getting old, and gray hairs, when you wear the hijab, you might not think about dyeing your hair because nobody sees it anyway.’” By wearing a hijab women do not have to worry about “gray hairs, and can focus on other parts of their lives. Although this seems like a trivial improvement, women in the west spend inestimable amounts of money on beauty products and a surfeit amount of time on their daily regimen. Even though the burqa is therapeutic in helping women with their appearance, it can be physically restricting, “Mariam had never before worn a burqa…The padded headpiece felt tight and heavy on her skull…The loss of peripheral vision was unnerving, and she did not like the suffocating way the pleated cloth kept pressing against her mouth” (72). In this excerpt the burqa is described as “tight”, “heavy”, and “suffocating, making it seem like an unpleasant garment to be ensconced in. The burqa can cause an “unnerving” feeling, which can make daily tasks hard to complete. When interviewing a girl in Afghanistan Daniel Pipes, American historian, writer, and commentator, got her opinion on the burqa, “When I wear a burqa it gives me a really bad feeling. I don't like to wear it…I don't like it, it upsets me, I can't breathe properly.” The discomfort the girl feels in the burqa “upsets” her, linking her physical distress to emotional distress. The girl gets “a really bad feeling” when she wears a burqa, showing that the physical effects of the burqa can be negative. Besides the physical hardships Muslim dress may cause, it can also cover up physical abuse, “A Muslim teenage girl
Abu-Lughod, Lila. "Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving? Anthropological Reflections On Cultural Relativism And Its Others." American Anthropologist 104.3 (2002): 783-790. Print.
The Women of the Middle East have played substantial roles for their corresponding countries since the advent of colonialism in the region. Middle Eastern women have worked in all types of fields including medicine, education, agriculture, government, private sector, and even defense. They have kept roofs over their family’s heads while their husbands were away in wars, or even in foreign countries to work in jobs that they could not find in their own countries. The roles of women in the countries of Yemen and Oman are no exception, but while they still find ways to contribute to their country, they care constantly stereotyped, discriminated, and ridiculed by men who are known and unknown to them. This paper will discuss the individual contributions of the women living in Yemen and Oman, and will discuss in further state laws and cultural norms that are affecting the women living in these countries today.
There are many different views towards Muslim choice of clothing especially wearing the veil. “I wear it believing it is necessary, but someone else can be wearing it believing that she is doing something extra” said Hamna Ahmed. One of the many reasons a Muslim can be wearing the veil are their own personal decisions too. Hamna has been wearing it for seven years now, despite her mother and three of her four sisters staying uncovered. Socially this causes an issue with the meaning of the veil and conflict with other groups. With many different consumptions of religion, what it means, what is considered to be practicing and what is not can lead to negative misunderstandings. Ultimately the decisions are up to the individuals although; there is likely to be misinterpretation between the meaningfulness of religion to family and society. On an even bigger scale of things this could also impact society and it...
Hijab is a choice that some women or girls make for their own security, for more privacy, or because it makes them feel comfortable and confident about themselves. It should be a choice though, and as it is not proven to us that it is obligatory, countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Pakistan should remove their laws that insist every girl puts the veil on. Freedom of choice should be given in these countries. It is not required in Islam so it shouldn’t be forced on anyone anywhere. In addition to this, Islam’s beauty is it’s freedom, the choice it provides you with, let it not be ruined.
On the other hand, in classical jurisprudential interpretations often preferred by Muslim conservatives, the hijab is equated with women’s seclusion and confinement” (Hamdan). There is a misconception that the reason the hijab is worn to limit male temptation, but the reality is both men and women have a hijab or veil. Both genders are expected to be modest in front of strangers to avoid the gaze of someone unjust. Men are encouraged to be covered from the navel to the knee, the stomach, chest, and back is highly recommended. Women are also encouraged to be covered from shoulders to the toes, but exceptions are made to mahram men which are men a women is forbidden to marry or are already married to.
299). The study consisted of having in-depth personal interviews to share their experiences of being a Muslim American woman (Anderson Droogsma, 2007, p. 300). Veiling to these women was a way of freedom while also having a Muslim identity (Anderson Droogsma, 2007, p. 301). It was also a source of behavior control, to not be sexually objectified, a way of commanding respect from others and even a source of checking their own behavior (Anderson Droogsma, 2007, p. 301). One of the women interviewed said, veiling to her was a way to feel connected to other Muslim woman who veil (Anderson Droogsma, 2007, p. 302). Veiling can be a way to feel connected to your religion and God as well as being connected to those who practice the same faith, it can be considered an act of membership. Many of the women interviewed noted they have been removed from planes, been treated unfairly, and have had strangers shout at them all for just being Muslim and being more visibly recognized from veiling (Anderson Droogsma, 2007, p. 303). This is an example of how media can affect the general population. When the media only shows radicals and compares all Muslims to being terrorist or dangerous they are actually putting Muslim people at risk of being assaulted in public. Muslim woman in particular are more at risk for being assaulted as they are more identifiable. So while veiling can be a source of empowerment and freedom for women it is a double-edged sword because it also puts them at further risk of being
Muslims often use it to keep themselves separate from the rest of society(Veil). Muslims have repeatedly shown that they prefer not to participate in society in western countries, which is not doing anyone any good. The idea of freedom is pointless if you do not take advantage of your opportunities. If muslims are living in a western country they should integrate(Veil). Muslims live in western countries for a reason, they need to start acting like they want to live there. If they do not wish to live in that country then they have the right to leave and live elsewhere. In other words, they have plenty of opportunities to be an active citizen and they need to participate so they can prove to others they are a good person. Furthermore, the wearers of the hijab get seperated, by society itself(Erlanger). Many people do not appreciate it when someone wears a hijab. Similarly to before, most people either feel hatred towards the hijab or they are scared of it. At last, the hijab separates Muslims from society, in many ways, whether they like it or
in addition to my new knowledge of the head covering she wears, I admire her devotion to her religion and her passion to follow her faith. She was so positive and radiant when speaking about her religion; it’s clear that she loves her religion and is very happy when expressing it to others. One reading that made a difference in my perception is Politics of Piety: The Islamic Revival and the Feminist Subject by Saba Mahmood. This quote in particular is one of my favorite from this reading: “It’s just like the veil [hijab]. In the beginning when you wear it, you’re embarrassed [maksufa] and don’t want to wear it because people say that you look older and unattractive, that you won’t get married, and will never find a husband.