The New York Times recently published a "guide" to Muslim headscarves. The article intended to illuminate an Islamic concept that promotes modesty, but the associated images showed styles specific to a few countries and all of the silhouettes were faceless. These types of portrayals can contribute to a misperception among some that Muslim women who don the headscarf may lack agency.
In today's political climate, the headscarf has become more than just a spiritual symbol of modesty. At one point, women working in government positions were not allowed to wear it in Turkey. In France, the niqab -- a version of the headscarf that covers the face -- is banned. In the field of counterterrorism, some view the headscarf as a manifestation of extremism. And as the number of Islamophobic attacks continues to rise in the United States so, too, does the fear among Muslim women, especially those who wear hijab, that they’ll be victims of violence.
In light of this, The Huffington Post asked women from all over the Internet to show just how beautifully diverse the hijab can be using the hashtag #HijabToMe. By showing the many different ways women choose to tie their hijab and the various meanings it takes for them, we hope to offer readers a glimpse into the diversity of Muslim women who don the headscarf. Muslim women were asked to post a picture of themselves along with a brief description of what wearing the hijab means to them.
Check out the compelling images and join the conversation in the comments section below using the hashtag #HijabToMe.
#HijabToMe I support choice. I support an (un)veiled woman's right to body autonomy. Also, men need to step back. pic.twitter.com/ImnUTfkDr4
— Footybedsheets (@_shireenahmed_) May 6, 2016
A photo posted by Fai 💁🏽💕 (@fifi_hijabista) on
A photo posted by Rezan Mosa (@rezzy.mosa) on
#HijabToMe is a reminder that modesty does not limit my aspirations, ignorance does. pic.twitter.com/Q8sWE6vV7h
— Basma sayedi (@basma_sayedi) May 6, 2016
A photo posted by A+ أمل (@amal.matan) on
A photo posted by Sumayya | سمية (@thisissumayya) on
A photo posted by Sobi Masood (@sobi1canobi) on
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