What Does Wearing Hijab Mean To Me?
February 7th, 2007I got asked this question by a very close friend of mine, Tessa Santoni.
She is currently a fine arts undergraduate student in the Fine Arts Faculty of Concordia University. Her option is textiles designing. She speaks better on the subject than I ever could. This semester she chose to do her fine arts project based on the Islamic method of veil (called hijab). I have been telling her to put up a website to describe her work, but since a) she’s busy and b) I am impatient , I am going to talk about this project of hers outloud in my blog.
So when she asked this question to think about what does wearing a hijab mean to me, at first I was stumped. Then I got thinking and the following little paragraph describes what I think of hijab personally, socially and spiritually.
Hijab is my reality check, my confidence, my assurity , my haven, my security, my submission to the will of God, my right, my identity, my filter, my rebellion to conformity, my modesty, my ethics, my muse, my inspiration to higher thoughts and ideals,my act of feminism, my prevention from objectification, my life. All in all it is my choice.
On its own, hijab is just a piece of cloth. But when I wear it, it defines boldly to the world my principles, my values and who I really am. It is an extension of who I am and who I am growing to be. Without it, I am still me. But with it, I can reach beyond my potential.
This is what hijab means to me.