Speakers discussed the Islamic practice of “hijab” wearing on Monday, April 12 in the Spiritual Center. The event marked the beginning of Islamic Awareness Week. (Tim Lee / Photo Editor)

Women voice benefits of practicing ‘hijab’

A special guest and Muslim-convert hosted a group discussion on women in Islam on Monday April 12 in the Spiritual Center. The modest hour-long event, which was attended by 15 students, marked the first day of the College’s Islamic Society’s Islamic Awareness Week

The casual event, which was attended by both male and female students, was created to provide a rare forum for open discussion between Islamic and non-Islamic students. In particular, the discourse focused on the Islamic practice of “hijab” or ‘covering,’ a subject surrounded by misperceptions.

“The women who wear the veil aren’t oppressed. It’s worn for protection … it is cultural … You’re forced to look at a Mulsim women as a person, at her face, at her eyes, and not at her boobs and her butt,” said Muslim student Sana Bennacef, junior history and secondary education major.

The emphasis of the evening’s discussion was on the tendency of people to confuse the Islamic religion with the perceived cultural practices of states with large Muslim populations.

“There exists a wide gap between the rights guaranteed to women by the Quran and in the countries claiming to be Islamic,” said Adam Hassan Morsy, the president of the College’s Islamic Society.

Special guest Christine “Noor” Morsy, Morsy’s mother, is a European-American teacher who converted to Islam 10 years after marrying an Egyptian Muslim. Morsy offered a candid perspective of the religion and her experiences with both prejudice and ignorance. A “white girl from middle-class New York,” Morsy was raised Catholic and did not decide to wear the hijab until five years after joining Islam.

“It is liberating … There is a complete difference in how American men will treat you. There’s no more dirty jokes, the double innuendos. There’s a barrier there. It’s respect. It’s kind of nice,” Christine Morsy said.

Christine Morsy explained that women in Islam are encouraged to cover their hair and wear loose fitting clothing in the presence of any men besides their husband — women and young boys are excluded. However, Morsy added that hijab was meant for both women and men, who are not supposed to look at other women.

She added that the practice was not entirely confined to Islam. “As a girl, I couldn’t enter the Catholic Church without being covered — my mother would throw a handkerchief on me,” she recalled.

Like Morsy, Bennacef was also aware of the issues that arise when race, religion and culture are conflated. She is a Muslim who was introduced to the religion by her Tunisian father. However, because her mother is American, Bennacef has a light complexion and European features that differ from the media’s portrayal of a “Muslim women.”

“People say ‘you don’t look Muslim.’ How do you look Muslim?” she said. “Indonesia is the country with the largest proportion of Muslims.”

There was also discussion of times when Muslims themselves find it difficult to distinguish between religion and culture, such as is the case with the view of fashion in Islam.

“You’re not supposed to beautify yourself except for your husband … but I can’t give up lipstick,” Morsey said with a laugh. “I like pretty fabrics, I like to match. There’s nothing in the Quran that says you have to ugly. Pakistani women have the henna on their hands. It’s gorgeous.”

Islamic participants all commented on the considerations that arose after September 11 for hijab-wearing women and other Muslims who can be identified by their appearance.

“I feel like when I wear the hijab I’m very conscientious about how I behave,” Morsy said. “If I do something wrong, I’m worried they’ll attribute it to Islam. I tell my husband ‘you are a walking billboard for Islam. You have to behave one hundred percent better than the next person.’”

Earlier that day, female students were encouraged to visit the Brower Student Center from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to borrow a scarf to cover their hair for the day in a “hijab-a-thon.” Four of the participating students, three of whom were non-Islamic, attended the Spiritual Center talk and were encouraged to share their experiences in the hijab.

The reasons the students gave for the donning of the hijab were varied. Some cited the desire to promote awareness and understanding on campus, as well as to show solidarity with and support for covered Muslim women. Others said they wanted to understand how their Muslim friends felt.

“The purpose is really beautiful and I really respect that,” said Lynette Barnes, senior psychology and women and gender studies double major, who donned a scarf for the day. “I could keep talking about this forever. (This discussion) is unfortunately very rare on campus.”