VEILED: PERSPECTIVES
Hirra’s family was different in the sense that she wanted to cover but her family didn’t want
her to cover, not only because she was young. Her move towards hijab was a multi-step
process where she initially tried veiling around age 11. It began as an occassional dress
where she would sometimes go to school with the scarf and other times she would not.
Hirra began observing the hijab as a means of exploration of her religion. About 3 years
into exploring the hijab, Hirra began to wear it more frequently. On rare occassions she
would go about her day without the veil but for the vast majority of the time she would be
wearing it regularly.
“Family can influence your decisions, but your decisions are
not only from nurture. A lot comes from who you are as a
person and how you feel comfortable in your own skin and
under your own circumstances.”
People often assume that your family would be happy when their daughter takes it upon
herself to practise veiling. It was a different situation for Hirra. Based off how she was
raised and her cultural background emerging from Pakistan, wearing the scarf on your
head was seen as slightly extreme within her family. At first her mother brushed off Hirra’s decision as a phase she was going through during her youth. However, come around
the time she wore it more frequently, her family became slightly concerned that it was a
choice that would stay. Regardless of their disagreement on the topic, they did not force
her against it either as it was solely her decision to make and it effected no one else other
than herself. With time, her family grew accustomed to her decision that was set to stay.
Their personal perceptions may or may not have changed about the veil but their support
for Hirra’s choice to veil as she feels has grown immensely. Her family has accepted her
exploration of the hijab as it is something that she likes and makes her feel comfortable.
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