In My Hijab Stereotypes

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In My Hijab
I am a proud American with a mediocre American life. I am 18 years old, going through school, making friends, and planning for a fulfilled life ahead of me. Most people even considered me a normal American with my mediocre life. This hanged forever around the time I was 5, when the date September 11th changed Americans as a whole. I am a Muslim American Women.
My life is just about the same as everyone else’s. I go to Texas State University, participate in various extra-curriculars, like the business fraternity, and have a job at the local Jack-in-the-Box. I am just like you, only I have to work harder to make friends, hold a job, and sometimes even do well in school. Myself and 7 million other Muslim Americans (Haq, 2009) face the problem of being stereotyped as a terrorist. To worsen my situation, I wear the traditional hijab, head scarf, which is comparable to putting a flashing sign over my head saying TERRORIST. Traditionally, …show more content…

With recent feminist movements in the Middle Eastern region and history, the hijab has become a symbol for oppression (Haq, 2009). This stereotype and prejudice for Muslim women that wear a hijab has caused people to turn around and walk the other way when they see me in the street and even tremble when sitting next to me on a train (Haq, 2009).
This mentality has posed the greatest difficulty to me. Over my life I had to understand my American culture to comprehend why they didn’t understand my Muslim culture (Question 4). I love wearing my hijab. It brings me confidence and grace. Wearing it symbolizes modesty and segregation between public and private life. People often ask, “Why do you wear that? You’re in America.” To which I can promptly answer I wear it for me and self-esteem as well as to bring some culture into YOUR life (Question

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