Comments on: Is the hijab just a waste of time?

By: Yakoub

Yakoub — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 06:22:09 +0000

Kate Melville’s comments are absurd polemic. They imply Muslim women who wear hijab are self-immolating half-wits. But what angers me more is the presumption that, yet again, Muslims (particularly Muslim women) are unable to speak for themselves without having their views re-interpreted by their far wiser Western cousins.

By: LeedsLad

LeedsLad — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 22:27:00 +0000

I am not of Asiatic or Arabic background, and all the females in my family never bother with the hijab except public gatherings such as in a mosque.

The hair is only a big deal if one’s culture of beauty is associated with the length of a woman’s hair. So, this hijab will not make sense to persons of African or European heritage.

By: sabiwabi

sabiwabi — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 02:02:03 +0000

LOL @ the stepping out into traffic bit!

what an utter load of crap.

By: Ala

Ala — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 19:49:25 +0000

I agree. From someone who wore the hijab for 16 years, there’s a lot more that goes into it. You can easily avoid wasting time prettifying yourself by not prettifying yourself: wearing any old thing and tying your hair back. But as a hijabi you have to make sure everything is modest and every bit of flesh is covered. The more items of clothing you wear, the more you have to clean, iron and colour match.

By: Leila

Leila — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 18:28:33 +0000

Hijabis actually spend a lot of time in front of mirror trying to adjust their hijab or making sure their hijab colour goes with their outfit, trying different styles. Pulling your hair back in a ponytail is practical and modest in my view, i am a hijabi. I do not know any benefits of a face mask unless you want to hide your identity. I am certain Kate Melville does not know or have spoken to hijabis.

By: Safiya Outlines

Safiya Outlines — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 08:40:32 +0000

Salaam Alaikum,

I think the reason that no Muslimahs have responded is that we’re all fed up of hearing such remarks.

Ultimately, the letter writers and their ilk don’t respect Muslim women and don’t listen to what we have to say. The best tactic is to ignore them and carry on dressing as we wish.

Jana’s article does more to dispel myths and normalise hijab wearing then a slew of letters ever could.

P.S I especially love wearing hijab in cold weather. No more cold ears.

By: Umm Zaid

Umm Zaid — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 02:19:34 +0000

As one who has actually worn the hijab, I have to say that it wastes, if you will, as much time as doing one’s hair - often more. I really wish men who don’t have to dress this way and never will would stop touting the benefits of hijab by telling us girls how much time we’ll save in prettyfiying ourselves, because it’s not true and you end up spending a lot more time making sure that you look absolutely professional, presentable, and perfect as an Official Representative of Islam (tm).

By: Old Pickler

Old Pickler — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 23:25:53 +0000

I don’t have a dog in this fight as far as headscarves are concerned, as long as wearing them is voluntary - which basically precludes Sharia law, under which it would not be. Face veils are completely unacceptable - like masks they don’t belong here.

But there is another issue, which is that why is everyone so obsessed with women’s clothes? Thinking about the G20 summit, all the talk about the women was about their outfits. Are we living in the fifties all of a sudden?