A friend of ours who has been living in Cairo for the last 10 years commented that he had seen the city undergo multiple transformations. The “change” that most intrigued me was that according to him, the number of women wearing the hijab had significantly gone up since he arrived in Cairo in the year 1999. At that time, the women wearing the hijab were in a minority, especially in work places. All along, I had been under the impression that due to the increase in the number of women studying abroad, exposure to western culture, fashion consciousness etc, fewer Egyptian women were taking the hijab. However, my research validated my friend’s comments.
There does seem to be a greater number of Egyptian women taking the hijab in recent years, though their decision may not always be welcomed. In the year 2002, two TV presenters who took the hijab were excluded from appearing on the state- run TV station where they worked, by the employers, despite obtaining court judgments in their favour (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6565145.stm). In the year 2006, the Egyptian culture minister came under pressure to resign after he commented that wearing the Islamic headscarf (hijab) was “regressive.”
Taking the hijab is a serious decision and one that you need to go through the rest of your life. It is reflective of your upbringing, your outlook on life, your priorities; indeed of the very person you are. It is not uncommon to come across a group of Egyptian girls-some of them wearing the hijab and others not. Yet, they are together, they are friends and they are enjoying the same things. I find it strange that though they are part of the same group and doing the same things, there must be such a vast difference in their thinking and attitude. One might say that it is not necessary for two people to be alike to be friends. Even in India, two girls who are friends may have totally opposite styles of dressing-one always wearing the traditional “salwar kameez” and the other wearing halter tops and off-shoulder dresses. But the hijab represents a division or difference that is much deeper than differing levels of modesty. Hijab is something that is the topic of heated debate in Egypt as well as the other Muslim countries. Even in western countries having a sizable Muslim population, the hijab dominates news. It has religious implications and is a way of life.
In Cairo, some women wear the hijab tied under the chin, covering neck, shoulders and the chest. Yet others wear it tied at the back of their head, leaving part of the ears and the neck exposed. I think the different styles of wearing the hijab will form the basis of another post.
There does seem to be a greater number of Egyptian women taking the hijab in recent years, though their decision may not always be welcomed. In the year 2002, two TV presenters who took the hijab were excluded from appearing on the state- run TV station where they worked, by the employers, despite obtaining court judgments in their favour (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6565145.stm). In the year 2006, the Egyptian culture minister came under pressure to resign after he commented that wearing the Islamic headscarf (hijab) was “regressive.”
Taking the hijab is a serious decision and one that you need to go through the rest of your life. It is reflective of your upbringing, your outlook on life, your priorities; indeed of the very person you are. It is not uncommon to come across a group of Egyptian girls-some of them wearing the hijab and others not. Yet, they are together, they are friends and they are enjoying the same things. I find it strange that though they are part of the same group and doing the same things, there must be such a vast difference in their thinking and attitude. One might say that it is not necessary for two people to be alike to be friends. Even in India, two girls who are friends may have totally opposite styles of dressing-one always wearing the traditional “salwar kameez” and the other wearing halter tops and off-shoulder dresses. But the hijab represents a division or difference that is much deeper than differing levels of modesty. Hijab is something that is the topic of heated debate in Egypt as well as the other Muslim countries. Even in western countries having a sizable Muslim population, the hijab dominates news. It has religious implications and is a way of life.
In Cairo, some women wear the hijab tied under the chin, covering neck, shoulders and the chest. Yet others wear it tied at the back of their head, leaving part of the ears and the neck exposed. I think the different styles of wearing the hijab will form the basis of another post.
At the fitness classes that I go to, the girls/ladies wearing the hijab and attending these classes are few. They make sure that their scarves are tightly wound. And go through the routine with equal fervor. These girls/ ladies have learnt not to let the hijab stand in their way!
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