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Recommended: Islam in the media
The videos viewed for class this week disclosed that there is not an understanding as to why the niqab is worn by women. Due to the misrepresentation of the Muslim population within the media in the western world. This has led many in the western world to believe that the niqab is worn against the choice of the women who wear it. That being said, when the niqab is worn because it is forced upon women under the threat of violence or family/community pressure, there is not much difference between that and the government denying to give women government services who are wearing the niqab. Women and any other person should have the right to wear whatever they choose. No outside source should have any influence to tell someone what to wear or what
In the article, Chesler uses several persuasive appeals in an attempt to convince readers to support France’s ban on head coverings. While some may argue that banning religious clothing infringes on Islamic law, Chesler points out that “many eloquent, equally educated Muslim religious… women insist that the Koran does not mandate that women cover their faces… Leading Islamic scholars agree with them.” In an appeal to logos, Chesler uses facts, gathered from educated Muslim women and Islamic scholars, to show that this argument is illogical because the burqa is not required. Chesler continues logos appeals by citing the Sheikh of al-Azhat University as saying “The niqab is tradition. It has no connection to religion.” This passage demonstrates ethos as well, but carries on the idea that burqas and niqabs are not required by Islamic law, making the ban perfectly logical. The idea is that, since these garments are not mandatory in the Koran’s broad requisite of “modest dress,” the ban does not infringe on religious rights, making the ban a logical choice. Chesler takes the argument one step further by insisting that the burqa is not only optional, it is detrimental to wearers. The argument that “it is a human rights violation and constitutes both a health hazard and is a form of torture” to women who wear burqa exhibits both logos and pathos. By pointing out that burqas are a possible “health hazard,” Chesler uses unappealing syntax to make readers believe that burqas are unhealthy and i...
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
In From Behind the Veil, Siham is forced to cover her body and this causes her to rebel against her family's beliefs. Siham's society in the Middle East wears niqabs to preserve their virginity and honor
Martha Nussbaum main argument tries to convince her audience on The Stone, a philosophical blog that includes mostly educated and philosophical people like herself, by presenting evidence that introduces topics about religion and the first amendment. Nussbaum opposition says that by being covered there is a risk that people might see it as threat. Nussbaum disapproves this by talking about how “...many beloved and trusted professionals cover their faces all year round: surgeon, football players, dentists,skiers, and skaters…”(Nussbaum). Nussbaum uses this to make people understand that others discover their face and don’t face the same discrimination as other people do just because they are Muslim. Nussbaum also tries to defend the burqa from the criticism that it is oppressive, harmful, and used to try to put down women. Nussbaum explains in her article “...society is suffused with symbols of male supremacy that treat women as objects. Sex magazines, nude photos, tight jeans- all of these products arguably, treat women as objects…”(Nussbaum). Nussbaum explores the hypocrisy of the argument made against her by showing that women are still oppressed with or without the
Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving by Lila Abu-Lughod describes Western feminist beliefs on Muslim women and their burqa/veil and how focusing on these misconceptions are doing far more harm than good. This causes Western feminists reduce the culture and beliefs of Muslim women down to a single piece of clothing. The burqa is a type of veil worn by Muslim women for a number of reasons such as proprietary and signaling their relationship with God. The burqa is often seen a symbol of suppression amongst the Western world and it was expected for women to throw it off in a show of independence once liberated from the Taliban. The saving of Muslim women is often used to justify the “War on Terrorism” as exemplified in Laura Bush 's 2001 speech. The belief that Muslim women needed saving existed before the “War on Terrorism” as seen when Marnia Lazreg wrote about a skit where two Afghan girls talked about the beauty of the free Christian France.
In conclusion, all in all, religion, culture, oppression, and commitment to God sum up to be misunderstood by many. Muslim women who wear the Hijab will love to be seen as pious, just as Nuns do, rather than oppressed. Muslim women who choose to cover themselves as a sign of chastity is not oppression. The culture of some Middle Eastern countries gives the wrong impression of the Hijab. Not only can culture have people misunderstand Hijab, but it can also send the wrong massage. Hijab and veils should always be looked at as a sign of piousness and their commitment to God, not oppression. Don’t be the one to judge but rather the one who seeks knowledge and the truth.
International human rights standards protect the rights of persons to be able to choose what they wish to wear, and in particular to be able to manifest their religious belief. Thus, Human Rights Watch in their report, focusing on the hijab ban for state officials in Germany, said that: “Restrictions should only be implemented where fully justified by the state, and be the least restrictive necessary”.1 Proclamation of wearing the hijab in public institutions as illegal is undermining the autonomy of individuals, their right to choose, their right to privacy and intimacy, and their self-determination. In addition to this, several European countries such as Germany and France directly prevent women wearing hijab to work or attend school in the public state institutions, which further intensified already negative attitude of Western public towards wearing hijab.
As an article of clothing that is used to hide one’s face, the veil, hijab, burqa, and niqab are objects that are often associated with modesty. In the context of the Muslim and/or Islam religion, the hijab is used as a barrier for to ensure that moral boundaries between men and women aren’t crossed. (Stacey, 2009) Nowadays, society has been known to associate the negative connotation of female repression with the words veil, hijab, or burqa, a large number of women who wear these headscarves in public have chosen to do so due to their own religious reasons and/or preferences. In relation to the short story “The Veil,” written by Ismat Chughtai, Chughtai challenges the symbolic meaning and/or significance behind the veil and the power that they hold in society in relation to the power struggles of the women behind them and the men who lift them.
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.
In “I Just Want to Be Me”, by Pamela K. Taylor, she wanted to get across that a hijab is just a scrap of cloth, although usually stands for and symbolize much more than what is really is. She starts off by pointing out that although she is this accomplished woman, with a career and family, she is looked at as oppressed because she wears a hijab (218). After 9/11 some Americans viewed women who wear hijabs as uneducated, and the hijab has become associated with violence, and extremist Islam (219). The hijab has become a symbol and usually when they need a woman to speak for Muslims it is usually one wearing a hijab (221). From the Muslim community the hijab gets a good and bad reaction on one hand, some Muslims see women who wear hijabs as very
“Women’s rights in Islam” is great controversial topic going on nowadays. The world is colored with different cultures and religions. Most people come up with different thoughts for other religion’s people by just having one look on them. Veil is obsession for some people, whereas, being bald is freedom in some people’s point of view. There are lots of misconceptions about women’s rights in Islam among non muslims. If women are covering their body or if they like to stay at home, people think that they don’t have any freedom in this religion and women are obsessed. But this is not reality. A person cannot point out anything wrong and blame other’s religion just because of his own confusion. He needs to study thoroughly and then come up with opposing viewpoints. Therefore, the misconception about women’s rights in Islam should be removed because women have equal rights, veil is for their protection, and they have freedom of speech and expression.
The role of woman, her position and status in society, and her nature have been issues of debate and discussion informed by religion, tradition and culture, misogyny, feminism and - many times - downright ignorance and bigotry.
The hijab is a very important and powerful Muslim symbol that is worn by billions of Muslim women all over the world. Many wear the hijab as a symbol of faith, while others wear it to protect themselves from society’s expectations of women. Some people think that banning the use of the hijab in public is a violation of freedom of religion and freedom of expression. However, others think the banning of the hijab is a necessary precaution. The wearing of the Muslim hijab should be banned in public because it is impractical, Muslims use it to separate themselves from society, and it is a security risk.
When one thinks of the role of Muslim and Islam women, the first thought that comes in mind is a victim waiting for the right moment to approach Western Liberation. The ignorance of the people compels the woman to be portrayed as weak, and controlled on what they can wear and how they should act. What most people are not aware about is that the Prophet Muhammad was indeed pro women’s right, as he stated “To seek knowledge is an obligation on every Muslim, male and female” proves that women are treated as an equal. Even though it is been said that women are independent to create their own pathway, society intervenes and challenges with women’s liberty. Women are judged by what they wear and what they do. Islam and Muslim have gotten the right to comply with her beliefs but she will not be accepted if she is not the traditional woman. Media captures the stereotypical views of Islam/ Muslim women, they do have the right to go against the traditional woman's role, but the reality is that history counters the fact that Islam and Muslims are civilized therefore women has not reached a high status in their society.
Today, people think that women were liberated in the west and that the women's liberation movement began in the 20th Century. Actually, Islam preceded all the existing systems in introducing women's rights more than fourteen centuries ago. The women's liberation movement was revealed by God to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the seventh century. A whole package of new rights was given at once to women by their creator without their having to strive to get them. The Qur'an and the Traditions of the Prophet (Hadith and Sunnah) guarantee every Muslim woman certain rights and duties.