response to 2 DQs 50 words each

· Option B, Kimberly

After reading the required readings and watching the video's, I have chosen Option B on: Women and the State.I have always been fascinated by different religions and traditions as well as why women wear hijabs or veils.  Some of the reasons that women would wear the hijab are for self-censorship, feminism, their own identity, and preserving cultural traits. In the film “I wasn’t always dressed like this” one of them women observed how men would look and act towards women and her decision to wear the hijab and Niqab (full covering of the body with the exception of the hands and eyes), was one of self-reflection and the belief that a woman’s body was hers and not for a man to see, it was her decision to control what others could see of her, it was in itself a type of controlled feminism. It was a way for her to not only honor herself, her culture, her modesty, self-empowerment, but to honor God. “Many different understandings of the veil exist. To most, it is a symbol of identity or culture. Some have used it as a symbol of freedom, while others have used it as a symbol of suppression. Nonetheless, they all agree that it is symbolic of some sort of expression in society” (Galadari, 2012. p.116).

Since 9/11 media and society has linked the wearing of the hijab to terrorist and terrorist activity. instead of one of religion and self-reflection. Western societies are for the most part convinced that the hijab means that one is trying to hide their identity prior to committing atrocities. Media has played a big part in this belief and fear. Most people are so undereducated on the Muslim faith and the wearing of the hijab, veil, and niqab, that they believe the worst when seeing these in person. The most common stereotype is that of the veiled woman, a figure that ambivalently straddles both ideals of multicultural inclusivity and the threat of radicalization as context demands. One example of contemporary orientalism can be seen in media portrayals of Islam. “After 9/11, Muslims were stereotyped as threatening terrorists, but this stereotype was not new to 2001 but rather reborn. Media coverage of Iran’s Islamic Revolution had already planted this stereotype of the violent Muslim aggressor in modern America” (O’Connor, 2013).

The hijab is known by all that the Muslim faith adheres to. The hijab is also worn by Jewish faiths as an important part of their faith and modesty. “What constitutes [a violation of] Jewish practice? If she goes out with her hair [uncovered]” (Yosef, 2012). Jewish women today may also practice the use of a wig or covering of their own hair in solidarity for their sanctity of marriage and piety of their faith.  In Mediterranean societies, the rich or upper socialites wore a type of veil to show that they were free and pure, whereas prostitutes and lower-class women were not permitted to wear a veil due to their impurity. In conservative Catholic faiths and societies, head coverings are worn to show respect for their virginity and faith. We can also see the use of veils and head coverings in Catholic Nuns.

I will close with this statement, If society would worry more about the “Why” one wears a hijab or veil instead of “who or how”, we as a society would gain a better understanding and realize the importance that one chooses to honor themselves, their culture, religion, and their freedom.

2nd student discussion response

· I chose to address option B: Women and the State. 

C)This was of interest to me personally as it built on a lesson I learned during my Cultural Anthropology religion course. What I learned during that course is that France is predominately a Muslim and Jewish society. This subject also revealed the position of France and its' influence upon its' people to not openly display their religious affiliation. While the lesson this week focus's primarily on the choice by women to wear a hijab, it overlooks that censorship is not specifically towards the Muslim community. A law was passed in 2003 that prohibited the public display of any religious affiliation not just the hijab (Williame, 2004). So while the information provided this week focuses on women and the hijab, it is important to remember that France is a country of religious censorship across the board. The stand taken by the French government is that the hijab represents oppression towards women as well as shame in the female body. The young ladies in the video view their choice to wear the hijab quite differently.

Over the last 40 years, the unrest in Muslim counties is surrounded by the battle for women to have equal rights. Some countries want to present opportunities to women to become literate, have educations, have ownership of property, and participate in the legal process. This struggle has infiltrated the middle east region since the early 1970's and has been the cause of many conflicts. The gender roles within these countries are still not resolved and with the involvement of the Unite States in these conflicts it is perpetuating the role that women that are Muslim, thus those subjected to wearing of hijabs, are considered oppressed. These conflicts are centered around those that practice radical Islam and can be misconstrued as being the rule to the faith rather than an extreme version. 

A)The video by Martin (2013) interviews three different young lady that approach the wearing the hijab as a freedom of choice. They tie individuality into the choice of the fabric of their personal hijab. They view the choice they made as something that is extremely personal. They attribute traits to the wearing of the hijab such as: obligation, life direction, self identity, and is something that must be chosen wisely to avoid judgment by others. The first woman connected her choice to individuality that is separated from men. Her visit to the mosque to pray that provided women the privacy to pray without the eyes or criticism of men as an important aspect of the religious choice she subsequently made. The second woman described it as having a personality. All three ladies felt that it was symbol of feminism not the suppression of feminism.

B)I would like to think that the choice to wear a hijab in Western state would be considered acceptable. Specifically in the U.S. it is met with mixed opinion. Many people are against it because it is a symbol of hatred by those that have attacked the country. Narrow minded opinion but it is what it is. On the other hand, this country was built on the ability for its' citizens to practice religion in whatever manner they saw fit and if that includes wearing a hijab, then so be it. In France, which could be considered a western state, it is not acceptable as it represents a different ideology of suppression. They are banned from being worn in schools hoping to alleviate what some are calling a distraction to the learning environment.  

Brettell, C. B., & Sargent, C. F. (Eds.). (2013). Gender in cross-cultural perspective (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc