Hijab Oppression

In countless discussions of Muslim women and the Hijab, a controversial issue has been whether it is a symbol of an oppressive rule or a form of self-expression and freedom. On the one hand, some argue that the Hijab stands for the oppression of women. From this perspective, women are viewed as submissive and oppressed by their government and religion. On the other hand, however, other argue that the hijab is a form of expression that has helped to educate and elevate women. In sum, then, the issue is in the understanding of the Hijab. Without proper understanding of the history and politics that influence women’s dress in Islamic culture, the divide in opinion will continue to alienate Muslim women, especially in western cultures.

Western media’s

Instead it is a method of expressing themselves based on their beliefs. In CNN’s case, there is a difference between 2009 and 2015 in the way the hijab is addressed. In a 2009 opinion piece, a young woman states, “Some women say the hijab makes them feel like they're locked in a cage. But others say it leads to personal freedom,” (Blake). There is a generational gap, however, in this article. The young woman’s mother does not feel the hijab is a form of personal expression but that is likely due to the history surrounding the hijab. Along the same lines of celebration, in 2015 CNN reported on the popular clothing brand, H&M’s inclusive global campaign that featured a Muslim woman in a hijab. The model explained to her interviewers, “We can adjust it to fashion but it isn’t a fashion. There is an element of modesty, not just the scarf,” (Sarkar). The model is educating those who read the article by defining the hijab as more than an article of clothing, but even so, the article has no mention of the debate around