VEILED : PERSPECTIVES
Saima was never one to conform to popular beliefs and shape her path based on other peoples ’ opinions and ways of life . For her , hijab was both a form of identity and a part of her individual understanding of her religion . She never staggered on this path because from a young age she was a firm believer of the importance of self-expression and acting on her own will . For her , it was also a part of being a feminist . Sacrificing individuality for sexual exploitation was an offense to who she was and what she knew she was worth . In today ’ s society and media where a woman ’ s body is used as an object seen through a heterosexual male ’ s perspective , hijab was a means of Saima ’ s neutralization to that subjugation . Hijab was such a personal decision on so many levels for Saima that it became bothersome when others attempted to interject their disapproving opinions on the topic .
Saima found it harder to gain support in Pakistan as compared to in North America . North America does not have such predominant stratification whereas in Pakistan highly educated people are placed in a different social class from the other majority . She experienced selective tolerance where the pseudoliberal movement dominates in respects to covering . In her experience , people were far more tolerant of those who do not cover as opposed to those who do . Educated people who chose to cover are becoming a minority in Pakistan . The acceptance and the notion of the veil is different worldwide . There is far less exposure in the Western society on the topic of true Islam and the discourse of the veil through an international lens , which is why majority of people living in the West are not aware of these issues . Hijab is not as transparant and simple of a topic as it could be .
Within the past year a lot has changed on the notions of Muslims . The veil is the most visible part of Islam to many . A lot of women are scared now and resorting to other forms of covering such as a plain scarf around their neck and a hat . Some are able to look past it whereas others , especially mothers with kids to worry about , have to be more precautious with the recent outbursts of attacks on Muslim women .
113