What have you learned about Islamophobia and the Hijab? In what ways has it changed your earlier perceptions about Islam? UK racism and Ted Talk
In the last week us students have been opened to several perspectives about Islam from Muslims. This has been interesting as we have not only been exposed to viewpoints that are not often reported in the media, but we have also been able to intimately understand Islamophobia. By listening to the experience of several Muslims, I am more aware of the myriad ways that Islamophobia manifests and the history behind the hijab.
The initial video from the UK helped contextualize Islamophobia. For a non-muslim like myself it was not only helpful for these Muslims to give their personal experiences with Islamophobia, but also beneficial for them to give their opinions on what Islam means to them. As a person of faith, I have been inspired by the Muslim community’s perseverance to continue practicing their unique religion even with the threat of rampant racism.
I had always thought of the hijab as an essential part of Islam, the word was synonymous with Islam, subservience to God, and humility. From this TedTalk I not only learned that the Hijab is not explicitly mentioned anywhere in the Quran and how it is possible that imams and scholars have inserted this requirement to patronize women: this completely changed my view of the Hijab.