I recently met with a few hijabi ladies , who felt various degrees of resistance in terms of career progression in their respective fields. One of them is a teacher in London, another a doctor in A&E and the third one is a recruitment consultant.
In muslim countries it may not be a big thing , but I guess here in the west it is in certain places. As a hijabi yourself or someone you know, have you encountered any problems in career progression in your work life?
If yes, how did you deal with them and how do you go about ensuring you maintain a balance between the religious obligation and the work requirement?
PS : I hope this doesnt come across as a strange question , a close friend is contemplating hijaab and has been asking everyone around for their views as well to prepare her self well in every respect.
I am in US and recently started wearing hijab. I was on vacation and when I came back I was wearing the hijab. No one even bat an eyelid or said anything to me except for a few friends who were just curious what brought the change.
It does not seem like it will hinder my progress but I have been at my current job for a few years now so I have established my position.
I dont know if I go for a new job/ position how will it be taken.
On another note a sikh guy joined our company and he was wearing his head cap all through out the interviews and now at the job.
A person from my department but who works at another location was in our office and when he met me, he extended his hand and I declined. I would like to say politely but I was so confused, I just told him I do not shake hands. (Before my hijab I would have). He said he understand and left. No interaction with him since then !!!
Certain fields are absolved of any prejudice - especially if they are contained industries - like the medical profession ... GPs and Dentists are not affected by much because they are in the position of the "business owner" ... And you will see other business owners are not affected by hijab with or without ...
The people who will be affected will be the employees ... because women in general are less likely to be employed for their ability in their work. As gutter as it sounds most businesses employ women for a combination of factors and one factor is "eye-candy" appeal. I have heard it myself from employers. So when or if women are employed for their ability - you will see the odd hijabi enter the workplace ... Or if there has been a change of heart or acceptance of Islam you may see it in the existing female workforce.
All of a sudden the hijabis are disadvantaged - not only by the selection process but also by other females who are in the workplace who have arrived on some aesthetic basis ... some tension will be present between them - most likely in the direction downwards towards hijabis - in a Western setting, with the few exceptions.
What I find almost annoying about this is that in its endeavour to equalise women and men - the West is empty - because the hijabis are also women ... so the true picture of male domination is really only present if you would metaphorically put a hijab on every woman in the workplace ... and then you will see the true picture ... some useless but very pretty women will be fired ... (They will get the worst deal if true equality is ushered in) ... secondly the next class of women who are slightly eye-catching and can do a reasonable job will be compared against the males who are more likely going to be more competitive for the same roles, this accounts for the majority of people. Then you will have some winning situations in the very talented women regardless of their beauty will be landing top jobs and sustaining them but still will be pressured because the males are naturally more competitive ... some excepts removed.
The influx of women in the workplace in modern times is not a result of fairness - but a result of a hidden chauvinistic agenda.
Worked as a Medical Physicist at a hospital in Australia. I wore a hijab and abaya and Alhumdulillah never faced any issues. Made the demands for prayer breaks and it wasn't an issue either. No one treated me differently.
I get that it may be totally different in other parts of the country/world, but here in my little corner of the world, I don’t think hijab is an issue. I have many hijabi friends who haven’t had a hard time finding work or working bc of their scarf (medical, education, finance etc). If anything, the struggle in careers has to do with many more factors than just a hijab (economy, qualifications, competition etc).
Also fail to see how hijab can get in the way of one’s career unless, well, you wanna work at hooters; but that argument seems to be a cop out against women working. Used to read this literature in HS/college about why working is so harmful and not for Muslim women, because of mingling wiht men, and shaking hands and being exposed to alcohol but in all reality… and i’m saying this based on MY experience in my city:
In a corporate environment-shaking hands is common but if you don’t, it’s not a big deal, you wont’ NOT get a job or not get promoted bc of it.
I have friends who don’t drink alcohol or eat non halal food but will join their coworkers in meals/happy hours etc. Lots of people have dietary/drinking restrictions so most people won’t put you down bc of it.
Inter-gender mingling? No one’s forcing you to be “friends” with your male boss/coworker, as long as you maintain a reasonable level of professionalism and friendliness, that shouldn’t hold you back from being successful. Not every single woman is interested in becoming a teacher or work at a daycare
and being eye candy? Idk. Yes there are studies that show attractive people get paid more or are more likely to get hired bla bla bla but the reality is…I’ve had a million jobs and I’ve seen people with all sorts of looks/body types etc. The ones who are talented and smart will stand out regardless of the way they look and dress
I was once hiring for a role for my firm. We were encouraging a diversity for the role, which meant I wanted women to apply. To be honest, I did discriminate who I called for interview given all qualifications roughly the same, I called in more attractive women. It did not matter if they wore a hijab or not.
my point: wear hijab in a neat, fashionable, elegant way. Don't just drape and wrap a piece of cloth round tour face because it will take away from personality atleast on the first impression.
but in all reality… and i’m saying this based on MY experience in my city:
