Xafsa Posted August 9, 2002 My Body Is My Own Business I often wonder whether people see me as a radical, fundamentalist Muslim terrorist packing an AK-47 assault rifle inside my jean jacket. Or may be they see me as the poster girl for oppressed womanhood everywhere. I'm not sure which it is. I get the whole gamut of strange looks, stares, and covert glances. You see, I wear the hijab, a scarf that covers my head, neck, and throat. I do this because I am a Muslim woman who believes her body is her own private concern. Young Muslim women are reclaiming the hijab, reinterpreting it in light of its original purpose to give back to women ultimate control of their own bodies. The Quran teaches us that men and women are equal, that individuals should not be judged according to gender, beauty, wealth, or privilege. The only thing that makes one person better than another is her or his character. Nonetheless, people have a difficult time relating to me. After all, I'm young, Canadian born and raised, university educated why would I do this to myself, they ask. Strangers speak to me in loud, slow English and often appear to be playing charades. They politely inquire how I like living in Canada and whether or not the cold bothers me. If I'm in the right mood, it can be very amusing. But, why would I, a woman with all the advantages of a North American upbringing, suddenly, at 21, want to cover myself so that with the hijab and the other clothes I choose to wear, only my face and hands show? Because it gives me freedom. WOMEN are taught from early childhood that their worth is proportional to their attractiveness. We feel compelled to pursue abstract notions of beauty, half realizing that such a pursuit is futile. When women reject this form of oppression, they face ridicule and contempt. Whether it's women who refuse to wear makeup or to shave their legs, or to expose their bodies, society, both men and women, have trouble dealing with them. In the Western world, the hijab has come to symbolize either forced silence or radical, unconscionable militancy. Actually, it's neither. It is simply a woman's assertion that judgment of her physical person is to play no role whatsoever in social interaction. Wearing the hijab has given me freedom from constant attention to my physical self. Because my appearance is not subjected to public scrutiny, my beauty, or perhaps lack of it, has been removed from the realm of what can legitimately be discussed. No one knows whether my hair looks as if I just stepped out of a salon, whether or not I can pinch an inch, or even if I have unsightly stretch marks. And because no one knows, no one cares. Feeling that one has to meet the impossible male standards of beauty is tiring and often humiliating. I should know, I spent my entire teenage years trying to do it. It was a borderline bulimic and spent a lot of money I didn't have on potions and lotions in hopes of becoming the next Cindy Crawford. The definition of beauty is ever-changing; waifish is good, waifish is bad, athletic is good -- sorry, athletic is bad. Narrow hips? Great. Narrow hips? Too bad. Women are not going to achieve equality with the right to bear their breasts in public, as some people would like to have you believe. That would only make us party to our own objectification. True equality will be had only when women don't need to display themselves to get attention and won't need to defend their decision to keep their bodies to themselves. By Naheed Mustafa Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kool_Kat Posted August 9, 2002 Originally posted by xafsa: True equality will be had only when women don't need to display themselves to get attention and won't need to defend their decision to keep their bodies to themselves. By Naheed Mustafa[/QB] I agree with this a 110%... I really enjoyed your post, and as you said Your Body is Your Business... Nothing more, Nothing Less... Keep up the good work... Allaha nawada hanuuniyo, kuligeenba... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ariadne Posted August 9, 2002 Thanx for reminding me of that article xafsa I read it 2 years ago and wasn't surprised to find another article (writen by a white woman) that was making fun of it and trivializing what the sister in the article wrote...but over that span of two years I forgot about it....and now Im reminded Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MaandeeQ Posted August 9, 2002 woooow, what an article! Strong N Profound :cool: It really made me feel very special N more proud to have my hijab on. Intta welli aanan xirana Allah ha soo hanuuniyo as Kool_kat said. Ameen Xafsa, good choice as always. Thanks 4 sharing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NoVa Posted September 30, 2002 Spoken like a True Woman!!! I gotta say the sista has her head and shoulders together...Ma'sha allah.. yeah i read this article before..and it's always great to read it again....a beautiful mind she has...representing all the Muslim Women around the world that got thier lifes together. Ta Ta Tiya* Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Xafsa Posted June 19, 2003 I just happend upon this article and I forgot how profound it was. I wonder what happened to Cushtic_Cutie & MaandeeQ? :confused: peace and luv Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
finestsista2005 Posted June 20, 2003 I liked reading the post sis, thanx for reminding to have pride over our shoulder. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ariadne Posted June 20, 2003 Xafsa: I'm still here not as often as I use to be though Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Senora Posted June 20, 2003 It is simply a woman's assertion that judgment of her physical person is to play no role whatsoever in social interaction. Wearing the hijab has given me freedom from constant attention to my physical self. Because my appearance is not subjected to public scrutiny, my beauty, or perhaps lack of it, has been removed from the realm of what can legitimately be discussed. I get so sick and tired of hearing people correlating "the wearing of the hijab" to oppression, or anything else silly....if only these one-sided ignorant fools would read this article, they would understand what it REALLY REPRESENTS.....kudos to the woman who wrote this article... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Xafsa Posted June 20, 2003 pyro = cushtic cutie? dang girl...you went from a cute name to a scary name...one question though.... what does the pixie mean? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thinkerman Posted June 20, 2003 what does the pixie mean? loool yes erggh what does it mean Pryo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shyhem Posted June 20, 2003 Originally posted by Shujui-1: what does the pixie mean? loool yes erggh what does it mean Pryo Pixie is an archaic english word and it means something like playfully mischevious. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ariadne Posted June 20, 2003 Nice try Shyhem, but not quite..... A Pixie is a small creature usaully found in Ireland and The British Isles (the word pixie itself is Gaelic) very similar to a fairy except they are angry and happy at the same time (fairies are aloof) they laugh at humans misfortunes and if there is no misfortune for humans they create them. They are said to be very cute! big eyes, pointed ears, short hair and the size of a human hand they either resemble pretty boys or girls. All in all they are fantasy creatures that are known for being playful and mischevious and adoringly evil . They are apart of Celtic folklore along with Lepraucahns, banshees, faeries, fairies and elfin. Doesn't anyone read fantasy books? or read books of specific folklores? Anyways Shyhem was close, but he described only the characteristics pixies are known for. So if someone ever says "oh your such a pixie" they mean you are playful and mischevious. Xafsa: Scary is good sometimes. I think this name suits me better its evil, mischevious, and sets fire to humans...er... I... mean causes misfortunes to get a good laugh rather than some cutie. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DA_BEAST Posted June 21, 2003 no wonder Clown is smiling coz he got himself the Jewel of the Crown in you Xafsa..... i wish you guys all the best and i mean it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ayaan8321 Posted June 21, 2003 As someone suggested,plese notify us before changing your nick..It really can be confusing :confused: I for once thought that Cushitic_cutie was nowhere to be found :rolleyes: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
