To Veil or Not To Veil? A Case Study of Identity Negotiation Among Muslim Women in Austin,Texas

Read, Jen’nan Ghazal and John P. Bartkowski. Gender & Society 14:395-417.

The symbolism of the hijab, a veil worn by many Muslim women, has been hotly contested both inside and outside the Muslim community. Male, pro-veiling clergy and Islamic elites primarily
support their opinion with interpretation of sacred texts such as the Qur’an. They also contend that veiling protects women from men’s sexual appetites and solidifies women’s place in the home. On the other hand, many feminist Muslim scholars argue that veiling is not required by scripture and is instead a tool of patriarchal oppression. But what do ordinary, non-elite Muslim American women think of the hijab?

In this study, Dr. Read interviewed 24 Muslim women in Austin, TX, half of whom wore the hijab.She and her colleague found that the women’s lived experiences exerted the most influence on their opinions. Indeed, many of the veiled women explained their practice in scriptural and religious terms, and many agreed with clergy that veiling was a solution to the problem of men’s lust. However, they did not see the veil as a reminder of women’s domesticity. Rather, many found that it freed them to work and study outside the home without fear of being sexualized by men. Finally, they expressed that veiling helped them feel more connected with their religious and ethnic social groups.

Many unveiled women agreed that the male gaze was a problem, but contended that the hijab was not the solution; they felt that men should be responsible for reining in their own sexuality. Like feminist scholars, they often saw the hijab as a means of patriarchal control that was detrimental to women, and perhaps even a symbol of political dogmatism. However, despite strong opposing opinions, both the veiled and the unveiled women expressed empathy and understanding toward their counterparts. This demonstrates that the polemics of elite discourse
do not necessarily translate to animosity among ordinary women.