Summary Of Thought On Hijab By Carrie York Al Karam

Thought on Hijab

Thought on Hijab by Carrie York Al Karam stood out to me as well. In Thought on Hijab, the readers learned about the misconception about the hijab. She stated how when many see a girl in a veil, the girl would be expected to be a good girl, but if a Muslim girl is not wearing a hijab then she would get the misconception that she is a bad Muslim. She explained that despite what people believed about a girl that doesn’t wear it isn’t actually true. She stated how she knew women who wore a hijab that was the complete opposite of what society views them as. She saw women that wore hijabs and did not pray, gossiped and was basically promiscuous, which was the complete opposite of what society perceived a Muslim woman in a veil to

be She then goes on to say how she and her stepdaughter do not wear hijabs for personal reasons. She then went on to say that making a girl wet a hijab is not only damaging but have sociologically effects and a deeper meaning to it. I thought that the hijab was worn for religious reasons and no other reason. I did not understand that it was a deeper meaning for a woman wearing one and the challenges that a Muslim woman goes through when determining to wear a hijab. It is sad and crazy that wearing a hijab can cause psychological effects. It is sad that their culture put so much efficiency on wearing a hijab.
Loving the headscarf
Loving the headscarf by Scotty Enyart was about a guy that fell in love with the girl behind the headscarf. This essay first starts off by stating how growing up, everyone around him was diverse, just not when it came to religion. It was not until he went to college that he was introduced to other religions. In one of his classes, he was a partner with a girl that wore a hijab and that was the start of a friendship. At first, he had preconceived misconceptions about the girl that wore the hijab. It was not until they started hanging out constantly that he found out the reason behind the hijab. The author and his friend fell for each other, even though they both knew that they could not be together. He was so intrigued by her, but it was still some sort barrier because somethings he did as simple as taping her shoulder was not appropriate. After all the hangouts and seeing the girl behind the hijab, they started to fall for each other, but they could not be together. The had different religions, different faiths and they were not allowed to be together. The essay ended with his friend Nadine emailing him and asking him to contact her again.
Even though the email that was sent was harsh, I could understand where she is coming from. They both knew that they could not be together but still fell each other like many people in relationships. I had fallen for someone, even though we both knew that it wouldn’t work, but still fell for the person they were inside. Many of us had fallen victims to that. Judging Nadine before he met her was wrong, but the fact that he fell for who she was underneath the shaft and that was beautiful.
Highschool Hijab
Highschool Hijab by Yvonne Pilla Mesa El Ashmari told a story of a girl experience in high school and just wanting to fit in.

Yvonne talks about her journey through high school and her battle with the hijab. She just wanted to fit in and for guys to pay her attention. She felt as if wearing her hijab would prevent her from having the high school experience like other teenagers had. She wore her hijab faithfully, until one day her favorite teacher told her she looked messy and would not get a job wearing a hijab. Those words were enough for her to not wear the hijab, well not wear it at school. She thought if she removed the hijab, that guys would pay her attention, but that was not the case and made her more self-conscious. It was not until she met a guy that showed interest in her, that she did not feel ugly and thought it would not have happened with the hijab on.

At first, I do not think that anyone should change themselves to fit, but I could relate to her. When I was in high school I had thick glasses, did not dress like other guys did not show interest in me. I just wanted to fit in with the others and thought that if I have gotten rid of my glasses then boys would show interest in me. When I got rid of my glasses, I begin dating and like Yvonne stated, I thought it would not happen unless I changed something about myself. It is sad that us girls changes ourselves sometimes for other and to fit

in.
My Journey after the Hijab
My Journey after the Hijab by Farhana N.

Shah, tells a story about a woman and her journey after the hijab. She started off by saying that her dreams that she had were different from the typical stay-at-home Pakistani woman, but her dreams had to change a bit when she was 18 and had an arranged marriage. She was able to go to college and her and her husband became full-time workers, but when their son turned seven she started to reflect on her life. She begins studying Islam and after 12 years of marriage, she decided that this wasn’t how she wanted to live. She felt as if she was living the life of a hypocrite and did not want to lose herself or her son in the process. She began getting involved in her religion and deciding to wear a hijab. The hijab opened her eyes to things that she wouldn’t have done if she didn’t start getting involved in her faith and wearing her hijab. Her hijab gave her strength and a voice she never knew she had.

This story was an interesting story about a woman finding herself, I can relate because I am currently on a journey to become who I am meant to be. My daughter is four and it wasn’t until this last year that I decided to try to live for me and what makes me happy. I have started getting involved in my faith, but I am still not there yet. I just wonder if when an individual finds comfort in their religion, is that when things become clearer and opportunity awakes. Overall I enjoyed reading this essay, it makes me want to get more involved

in my faith.
I am my hair
I am my hair by N.B Sky, was an interesting story to read. You always hear that your hair isn’t what makes you or it is just hair, but to N.B Sky she was her hair. She let it be known that her hair contributes to many aspects of her life and has experienced a journey of its own, she even experiences self-love. She starts off her essay by saying how her mom's hair provided protection from her dad's fist and from that experience, she started to associate hair with a source of safety and beauty. She stated for decades that her life revolved around how she presented herself, hair included. She talks about how as she gotten older she always fought for approval, but her hair was one thing she did not have to fight for someone approval, but that was short lived. She met this man that she thought loved her and her hair, but the love she thought she had was short-lived. The man she once loved starting throwing a fist at her, but this time she did not experience protection or warmth from her mom hair or even her own. After experiencing this abuse she started to research Islam, even though she was intrigued by the hijab, she could not see who she was without her hair. She went on a self-love journey and come to be okay with whom she is.
Her story was different from the ones that stood out to me. I loved the song I am not my hair, but just like N.B Sky, I actually am. My hair affects my mood if I feel pretty or ugly is based on my hair. My mom always told me if my hair wasn’t right then your whole mood is thrown off an I believe her. I can learn so things from N.B Sky and maybe I need to go on my own self-love journey, even though it is a process, that is one sacrifice I am willing to make.
A Million Scattered Pieces
Lastly, the last essay that stood out to me was a million shattered pieces by Faizah Afzal Malik. A million shattered pieces tell a story about a woman journey of wearing her hijab. Her decision to wear it gave her the confidence to not care what people think and just do what makes her happy. She first started off the essay by saying how it was her decision to wear a hijab, even though the women in her family did not. Mant people thought that she was wearing the hijab for her husband, but that wasn’t the case. She went on a journey with her hijab and despite what others thought, they did not deteriorate her from wearing her hijab faithfully or caring what they thought. I enjoyed reading this essay, similar to some of the rest that stood out, this essay provided a sense of courage and strength, I always worry too much about what people think about me and that makes me stop doing the things that I want to do. I just wish I had the strength to say, I don’t care what anybody thinks, I am going to do what makes me happy.