Jodie J

823 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Islam women's rights

Diversity-the condition of having or being composed of differing elements: the inclusion of different types of people (as people of different races or cultures) in a group or organization ("Merriam-webster's collegiate dictionary" 366). Diversity is the perfect word to describe the United States, and we, as leaders, have to be capable of dealing with people whom are different than our selves. To get a first hand perspective, I am choosing to study Muslim women from the Middle East and their interactions with other people.
Today, there is a growing population of Muslim women in the United States. Many of these women practice hijab, a head scarf, or niqab, a full face veil. Like every America, Muslims are allowed the right to practice freedom of religion and not to be discriminated against because of religion, race, gender, etc. The following are laws that protect these rights: First and Fourteenth Amendment, Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), and Civil Rights Act of 1964 ("Discrimination Against Muslim Women-Fact Sheet").
The First and Fourteenth Amendment bar federal and state governments from prohibiting women from practicing hijab or any other religious attire. The Fourteenth Amendment also prohibits discrimination against women practicing hijab ("Discrimination Against Muslim Women-Fact Sheet").
The RLUIPA bars government officials from restricting women’s ability to practice hijab when they are confined to any institution that receives federal funding ("Discrimination Against Muslim Women-Fact Sheet").
In the Civil Rights Act of 1964, prohibits an employer from firing, refusing to hire, or disciplining women because of religious practices.
I was fortunate enough to interview Diala Al Daghlis...

... middle of paper ...

...abs. As I also talked to my peers about this project I also realized that even though people may stare at Muslim women with hijabs doesn’t always mean that they are discriminating against them. It might seem rude, and make them uncomfortable, but it is only human nature to be curious of something different.

Works Cited

1. Al Daghlise, Diala. Personal Interview. 02 Feburary 2014.
2. Discrimination Against Muslim Women-Fact Sheet. New York: ACLU, 2008. Web. .
3. Ghumman, Sonia, and Lindo Jackson. "The downside of religious attire: The Muslim headscarf and expectations of obtaining employment." Journal of Organizational Behavior. 31.1 (2010): 4-23. Print.
4. Merriam-webster's collegiate dictionary. 11th Ed. Springfield: Merriam-Webster, Incorporated, 2003. 366. print.

Show More
Related

  • Veiled Intentions: Don T Judge A Muslim Girl

    820 Words  | 2 Pages

    Ever pass by Muslim woman in a hijab at the mall or park and think how oppressive and restraining her culture must be? Maysan Haydar, a New York social worker who practices the Muslim tradition of veiling, believes otherwise. In her article, “Veiled Intentions: Don’t Judge a Muslim Girl by Her Covering,” Haydar highlights on her experiences as a Muslim living in an American culture, where showing more skin is the “norm.” Haydar speaks specifically to a crowd who unconsciously makes assumptions about certain Muslim practices, in hopes of sharing the truth behind them. Haydar suggests that, contrary to popular belief, not all Muslim women cover themselves strictly as an “oppressive” religious practice, but that some women, like herself, find

    Read More

  • People Wearing Turbans are Stereotyped as Terrorist

    1071 Words  | 3 Pages

    The way Muslims have been treated after the 9/11 incident is very different than before. Before 9/11 there was certainly some discrimination towards Muslim Americans, but after the attacks happened, between the years 2000 and 2001, the Federal Bureau of Investigation reported a 1,700 percent increase of hate crimes against Muslim Americans (Khan & Ecklund, 2012). “While trying to adapt to the outcome of 9/11, Muslim Americans dealt with an increase in negative stereotypes spoken by the common culture, and Muslim immigrants faced more negative attitudes than any other immigrant group” (Khan & Ecklund, 2012). Since the 9/11 attacks, people who dress with a substantial resemblance to Muslims worry about the upcoming hatred and unfriendliness from people of other ethnicities (Khan & Ecklund, 2012). While listening to the media, one can hear reports of negative stereotypes towards people who resemble the Muslim religion, which may be assumed that these people are violent. Negative attitudes that Muslim Americans experience may have detrimental effects on their success in America and their success of achieving the American Dream.

    Read More

  • Muslim Women and the Effects of 9/11: The Need to Understand How to Treat the Psychological Aftermath

    1699 Words  | 4 Pages

    Discrimination, prejudice, and racism are all terms far too similar and encountered by multiple cultures. A vast amount of individuals have experienced these different terms, unfortunately some individuals belonging to certain minority cultures experience them more often than others. After the attacks on 9/11, the Muslim culture became a major target for actions such as discrimination. The media, especially in regards to women and their attire, fueled warped views about this culture. There are beliefs that women in this culture are oppressed and forced to wear a veil, or hijab, however their views and opinions are not taken into account regarding these statements that are being portrayed through the media and its watchers who are not aware of the cultural beliefs and traditions.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of The Politics Of The Veil By Joan Scotts

    856 Words  | 2 Pages

    Muslims, Sikhs, and many other religious affiliations have often been targeted for hate crimes, racial slurs, and misfortunate events. We are all different in our own ways some are good and some are bad yet one event changes everything for everyone affiliated with the group. The book The Politics of the Veil by Joan Scott a renowned pioneer in gender studies gives a detailed and analytical book of about the French views towards the Muslim females in France during 2004. The author talks about why the French governments official embargo of wearing conspicuous signs is mainly towards the headscarves for Muslim girls under the age of eighteen in public schools. The main themes of book are gender inequality, sexism, and cultural inequality historical schools used in the book are history of below, woman’s history, cultural history, and political history. In this essay, I will talk about why Joan Scotts argument on why the French government’s ban on wearing conspicuous signs was

    Read More

  • Critical Analysis: Understanding Religion in the Workplace

    775 Words  | 2 Pages

    Jones, T. and Erickson, E. (2013). Recent Developments in Religious Accommodation in the Workplace. Employment & Labor Relations Law, 12(1), 8-13

    Read More

  • Exceptions To The First Amendment Essay

    682 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...na, for example, is practiced in many religions throughout the world, but is illegal in the United States. Referring back to Sultaana Freeman, veils for identification photos are forbidden, even though in other countries it may be permissible. These exceptions are chiefly for the safety for the people, for their health, and for protection against violence that may erupt as consequence.

    Read More

  • Religious Symbols: Clothing as an Identifier

    1693 Words  | 4 Pages

    Clothing is perhaps the simplest form of expression used by people to differentiate themselves from other members of society at both the collective and individual level. Clothing has the ability to simultaneously delineate an individual’s identifying attributes such as gender, profession, religion and ethnicity. Likewise, religious symbols entail wearing particular garments, amongst many other articles, and individuals choosing to wear it to overtly demarcate their religion and faith. Many traditions have distinctive religious symbols, such as Sikhs wearing the turban and Catholic nuns wearing the black veil. In Islam, there are several religious symbols such as the hijab, the burqa and the niqab intended to be worn by Muslim women. In recent

    Read More

  • Scarfing It Down Analysis

    665 Words  | 2 Pages

    The author of this essay thinks it is ridiculous that women cannot wear their hijab in certain places around the world. Many people think the hijab is not necessary. However, it is part of what Muslim women believe. She explains in her essay, "So next time you hear about a hijab ban think about your best pair of jeans or your faded t-shirt with the logo of your favorite band" (Fakhraie 461). A hijab is just like every other piece of clothing that covers up the body. It can be part of their religion, or they can wear a hijab just because they like how it

    Read More

  • What Is The Role Of Women In A Thousand Splendid Suns?

    1822 Words  | 4 Pages

    According to Doucleff, “‘wearing the hijab eliminates many of the hassles women have to go through — such as dyeing their hair,’ she says. ‘For example, you're getting old, and gray hairs, when you wear the hijab, you might not think about dyeing your hair because nobody sees it anyway.’” By wearing a hijab women do not have to worry about “gray hairs, and can focus on other parts of their lives. Although this seems like a trivial improvement, women in the west spend inestimable amounts of money on beauty products and a surfeit amount of time on their daily regimen. Even though the burqa is therapeutic in helping women with their appearance, it can be physically restricting, “Mariam had never before worn a burqa…The padded headpiece felt tight and heavy on her skull…The loss of peripheral vision was unnerving, and she did not like the suffocating way the pleated cloth kept pressing against her mouth” (72). In this excerpt the burqa is described as “tight”, “heavy”, and “suffocating, making it seem like an unpleasant garment to be ensconced in. The burqa can cause an “unnerving” feeling, which can make daily tasks hard to complete. When interviewing a girl in Afghanistan Daniel Pipes, American historian, writer, and commentator, got her opinion on the burqa, “When I wear a burqa it gives me a really bad feeling. I don't like to wear it…I don't like it, it upsets me, I can't breathe properly.” The discomfort the girl feels in the burqa “upsets” her, linking her physical distress to emotional distress. The girl gets “a really bad feeling” when she wears a burqa, showing that the physical effects of the burqa can be negative. Besides the physical hardships Muslim dress may cause, it can also cover up physical abuse, “A Muslim teenage girl

    Read More

  • The Hijab and Human Rights

    606 Words  | 2 Pages

    International human rights standards protect the rights of persons to be able to choose what they wish to wear, and in particular to be able to manifest their religious belief. Thus, Human Rights Watch in their report, focusing on the hijab ban for state officials in Germany, said that: “Restrictions should only be implemented where fully justified by the state, and be the least restrictive necessary”.1 Proclamation of wearing the hijab in public institutions as illegal is undermining the autonomy of individuals, their right to choose, their right to privacy and intimacy, and their self-determination. In addition to this, several European countries such as Germany and France directly prevent women wearing hijab to work or attend school in the public state institutions, which further intensified already negative attitude of Western public towards wearing hijab.

    Read More

  • Islamophobia Essay

    2152 Words  | 5 Pages

    299). The study consisted of having in-depth personal interviews to share their experiences of being a Muslim American woman (Anderson Droogsma, 2007, p. 300). Veiling to these women was a way of freedom while also having a Muslim identity (Anderson Droogsma, 2007, p. 301). It was also a source of behavior control, to not be sexually objectified, a way of commanding respect from others and even a source of checking their own behavior (Anderson Droogsma, 2007, p. 301). One of the women interviewed said, veiling to her was a way to feel connected to other Muslim woman who veil (Anderson Droogsma, 2007, p. 302). Veiling can be a way to feel connected to your religion and God as well as being connected to those who practice the same faith, it can be considered an act of membership. Many of the women interviewed noted they have been removed from planes, been treated unfairly, and have had strangers shout at them all for just being Muslim and being more visibly recognized from veiling (Anderson Droogsma, 2007, p. 303). This is an example of how media can affect the general population. When the media only shows radicals and compares all Muslims to being terrorist or dangerous they are actually putting Muslim people at risk of being assaulted in public. Muslim woman in particular are more at risk for being assaulted as they are more identifiable. So while veiling can be a source of empowerment and freedom for women it is a double-edged sword because it also puts them at further risk of being

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Religious Symbolity In Society

    1581 Words  | 4 Pages

    Many countries around the world decide to ban clothes and jewelry with religious significance in public places. France, Belgium and Britain decide to ban all religious significance like veil, turban and cross in Christianity. These countries decide to ban religious significant after they provide evidence that it might affect the safety of society and it’s against human rights (Islamic veil across Europe - BBC News, 2014). But this ban is also will affect the rights of other people in the society. This ban affects people life and changes it negatively. Also, it maybe affects the society in negative way. This paper will argue that people should be free to wear clothes and jewelry with religious significant, because ban religious significant is

    Read More

  • Hijab Should Be Banned Essay

    876 Words  | 2 Pages

    The hijab is a very important and powerful Muslim symbol that is worn by billions of Muslim women all over the world. Many wear the hijab as a symbol of faith, while others wear it to protect themselves from society’s expectations of women. Some people think that banning the use of the hijab in public is a violation of freedom of religion and freedom of expression. However, others think the banning of the hijab is a necessary precaution. The wearing of the Muslim hijab should be banned in public because it is impractical, Muslims use it to separate themselves from society, and it is a security risk.

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of Multiculturalism

    1221 Words  | 3 Pages

    Okin states that a culture “endorses and facilitates the control of men over women in various ways of life” (12). There are several rituals, matrimonial cultures, and property ownership that make it nearly impossible for women to live independently. Although certain cultures have myths that justify control over women, or “to blame and punish them for men’s difficulty in controlling their own sexual impulses,” (14) several global cultures do not suppress women. Okin does not provide readers with the women’s perspective on their supposable suppression through their culture. An example of how Okin’s claim is incorrect pertains to Middle Eastern women that participate in Islamic culture. Women are required to wear the Muslim headdress, also known as the hijab. Although most individuals would assume that women wearing the hijab are oppressed, treated poorer than Muslim men, and are a symbol of modesty, when in fact the Muslim women wear the hijab to affirm personal identity. Leila Ahmed, author of the Veil debate- Again, interviewed different American Muslim college students regarding whether they personally believe the hijab is required in the Qur’an or not and their personal feelings towards it. A particular opinion from a woman states that wearing the hijab “is a way of affirming my community and identity,” (153) and another women states, “I believe it’s a choice not an obligation. I wear it for the same reason that

    Read More

  • Theme Of Women In The Lady Of Shalott

    1021 Words  | 3 Pages

    Often women in these countries are forced to wear a burqa or hijab. These traditional coverings are supposed to keep these women safe. Just like the lady of Shalott’s tower kept the lady safe yet secluded; so secluded that no one “hath seen her wave her hand [,] or at the casement see her stand” (Tennyson, 23-25). In A Thousand Splendid Suns, Rasheed often told both his wives to always keep themselves covered in burqas because he did not want other men to leer at what was his property. In that society, women are told to cover themselves from head to toe. This is due to the fact that their beauty is a distraction to men and might make them take the wrong “action.” This is not right, society should not make women think that they are a distraction or force them to wear something they do not want to wear. Society should consider if these women dress respectively then that should be

    Read More

More about Jodie J

Open Document