In a school environment its not a problem AT ALL. Its always a mixed culture society and people are really very tolerant.
Come on yaar. I study government and my classmates are quite a red necks, with their background in army and ''other govt. agencies''. Everyone is nationalist here with 'jiya amrika' in their hearts. And I still tell them openly that I am muslim and from Pakistan. Even open my iftaar in front of them in class. Do they dare say something? NO. Do I care even if they say? NO.
Crux of whole heer ranjha story. Our fears comes from within. Try to over come that. I see girls wearing Hijaab all the time. These are people who care less about what others think about them.
No one will openly say anything to you but don't assume subtle discrimination doesn't happen. Muslims have not had it easy since 911.
They may say nothing to you but don't think they appreciate the burqa.
Or abaya.
Hijaab is generally better tolerated and even with that people have problems.
Your choice Aisha. It can work the other way too. Some people assume you are oppressed and go out of their way to help you advance in your career because they appreciate what they conceive as you breaking out of prison of an existence. I know some afghani girls who really used that to their advantage after the Afghanistan war began.
Aisha, my apologies that I did not read the entire thread but only the first few entries...will catch up when i have more time. But as a gori who was born and raised in USA, I can perhaps shed some light.
There is nothing wrong with wearing somewhat different clothing, dressing modestly and covering your hair. There are a number of both Muslim and Jewish moms in my area who do this and no one gives a second glance. BUT...they do actually fit in. They wear nice headscarves, nice looking loose-fitting modest clothes but with at least a bit of western flare. Surely modest but not to the extent of Abaya. If you wear Abaya, you WILL stand out and get stares - as many or even more than if you were wearing a bikini. Why? because its so very far from the norm. You call more attention to yourself wearing Abaya than you would if you'd don a nice headscarf and some nice loose-fitting and covering clothes.
Theres also the matter of "civic responsibility". People need to see your face and be able to identify you - this goes for anything from bank withdrawals to paying tolls in the highways or at red lights that now have cameras. Test-taking, esp for tests like entrance exams. Abaya makes you completely anonymous which is a pretty big no-no in the USA.
Better to fit in with the locals while at the same time keeping your own values. There IS a way to accomplish both.
A lot of women wear hijab in Chicago and feel very comfortable in it so it’s not really a problem. You may come across some ignorant people but it shouldn’t affect you because the law doesn’t discriminate you.
Btw, this topic just reminded me about this video someone posted on facebook:
I don't see anything wrong with wearing abaayas at all in the US or UK but if it was me I'd prob wear a long smart coat or something to cover over my clothes. That's just a personal choice tho and u should do what u feel happy with. I don't wear hijab (my Mum does tho but without jilbaab/outer covering) and I understand many ppl's definitions and interpretations of jilbaab/abaaya/niqaab can vary..
Mamaof3 abaya does not mean covering your face. Abaya is just the loose overall or long coat you can say that reaches to the floor. Do you mean abaya as in nikaab? Nikaab = covering of face?
No one will openly say anything to you but don't assume subtle discrimination doesn't happen. Muslims have not had it easy since 911.
They may say nothing to you but don't think they appreciate the burqa.
Or abaya.
Hijaab is generally better tolerated and even with that people have problems.
Your choice Aisha. It can work the other way too. Some people assume you are oppressed and go out of their way to help you advance in your career because they appreciate what they conceive as you breaking out of prison of an existence. I know some afghani girls who really used that to their advantage after the Afghanistan war began.
Giving up one's "identity" so that Gora sahabs will treat you better or look more fondly upon you is the last thing one should take into consideration when going to or applying to universities or jobs in the West !
Come on if you've got to give up your identity and your religious beliefs just to get your foot through the door , its not worth the effort !
I for one would NEVER give up my identity just to "fit in" or get ahead in a society .
Could not give a damn what they think ...
You judge me by my merits and qualifications not by the way I dress !***
*Aish- I live in Pittsburgh, where its not like its predominantly Muslims, but I feel more comfortable wearing a hijab here then in Pakistan. I get more of the "whats the need to wear that" in Pakistan, then in the US. No one is gonna look/talk about you because you look differnt, believe they have better things to do. *
*Living in the US, has given me the right to spread Islam in a positive manner, that we don't have to wear black, cover our faces, blah blah blah. I'm dressed nicer then half the people in my classes, and therefore, people can approch me to ask questions, which i love. *
If i wanted to wear an abaya today, its no problem, and nobody would treat me any differnt then before.
Giving up one's "identity" so that Gora sahabs will treat you better or look more fondly upon you is the last thing one should take into consideration when going to or applying to universities or jobs in the West !
Come on if you've got to give up your identity and your religious beliefs just to get your foot through the door , its not worth the effort !
I for one would NEVER give up my identity just to "fit in" or get ahead in a society .
Could not give a damn what they think ...
You judge me by my merits and qualifications not by the way I dress !
As long as you don't look like a hot mess when you wear it. Be sure you look professional at least if you are going to wear those clothes. I've seen girls wear it with elegance and the I've seen folks that look like they rolled out of bed.
As long as you don't look like a hot mess when you wear it. Be sure you look professional at least if you are going to wear those clothes. I've seen girls wear it with elegance and the I've seen folks that look like they rolled out of bed.
I have to work on the rolled out of bed part, study life is so hectic some days I do look like I just rolled out of bed when I do all nighters ahem.
IMO the point of wearing an opinion is to cover yourself and not have others look at you. BUt, here in the u.s wearing abayas is not the norm so you'd be calling more attention to yourself which kinda invalidates your purpose.
IMO the point of wearing an opinion is to cover yourself and not have others look at you. BUt, here in the u.s wearing abayas is not the norm so you'd be calling more attention to yourself which kinda invalidates your purpose.
For that matter so does wearing a hijab /shehla/scarf. It instantly singles you out in a crowd but does that mean we drop it ?***
blackforest_360, ppl who wear it (as well as those who wear just a hijab) tend to counter that argument with even tho they are looked at at least they aren't being looked at in a 'lustful' way IA
