“Most Muslim women know it is fear and curiosity that cause people to stare. They know it is ignorance and stereotypes that cause people to suppose that a piece of material covering the hair strips a woman of the ability to speak English, pursue a career, work a remote control”
[Randa Abdel-Fattah]
For such a long time, I found myself becoming frustrated. Frustrated and irritated!
Time and time again, I have grown accustomed to hearing people talk about how MY hijab is a sign of oppression. And in desperate needs of liberation.
Yet this very same cloth is not placed upon your head, and you think it is acceptable to insult my faith.
You do not follow the religion of millions, so please explain to me, how can you speak with no real information.
You do not understand my faith, or why I choose to cover my hair, body or face.
My hijab is my right and my choice and I most certainly don’t need you to be my voice. In fact, the voice of millions of us women, who see Hijab as freedom, honour and dignity. A symbol that says I am proud and I wear this as a sign of liberty.
You say Muslim women need to integrate, we need to educate. But your shallow mind needs to investigate.
You look at my clothes yet ignore my mind. You neglect my sharp intellect, my hobbies, my goal driven ambitions. You choose to overlook, that I can; not only speak one language, but two! That is more than I can say for some of you.
You label us, continue to stereotype us, without realising just what we are about!
So I decided to make a change. I decided to show you and others, the Muslim woman of today!
The inspiring mothers, empowering teachers, mind-blowing artists, the illustrators and doctors. The entrepreneurs, the bilingual, multi-lingual authors, writers, creators. The businesswoman, the artist, the photographer and content creator! Because there is much more to us than meets the eye.
Behind Our Veil 