Celebrating World Hijab Day on grounds
Before you judge, cover up for a day
World Hijab Day is an annual event that takes place on February 1st. It was founded to encourage women to wear the Hijab and get a quick glimpse into the everyday life of women who choose to wear the Hijab daily.
The day was started in 2013 by Nazma Khan who, after facing intense post 9/11 Islamophobic bullying, harassment, and assault in her lifetime, decided to try and dedicate a day where people from all walks of life have the opportunity to learn more about the veiled Muslim woman.
World Hijab Day is a chance for participants to be informed of both the positive and negative connotations surrounding the Hijab, and acknowledge the harsh reality that women who choose to wear it live in. It is also a chance for allies to speak out and show their support and solidarity for their Muslim friends, co-workers, and community members on social media, by wearing the Hijab, or through any other outlet.
There is also a strong emphasis on the choice of wearing the Hijab, fighting the “oppressed woman” stereotype that often accompanies the Hijab, and advocating for any and everyone’s right to freely dress without worrying about their safety or the disruption of their lives.
After taking photos and showing solidarity today, many UVA students participated in a dialogue event on Friday, February 5th, to discuss the various experiences students have had, criticisms, and inquiries. World Hijab Day at UVA aims to continue the dialogue and alliance outside of a single day in order to harbor acceptance, understanding, and acknowledgement of the reality Muslims face in America today.
I cannot easily describe how it felt seeing students around grounds wearing the hijab for the first time – fumbling with the scarf, trying to stop it from slipping, and nodding at me with a smile when we made eye contact. A lifetime of solitude has made solidarity precious. It was encouraging to see the overwhelming support that has come in face of overwhelming hatred.
Livia Richards, a first year student, studying Biology, said, “I’ve been interested in this issue for a while. The discrimination that women who wear the hijab face. It seemed like a great opportunity to raise awareness about that.
Livia Richards: “Because no one should be afraid to practice their religion. #WorldHijabDayUVA”
“It was really empowering to hold the sign, put on the Hijab, and take the picture for World Hijab Day,” she continued. “I felt like I was a part of something bigger, and that was a great feeling.”
Livia also participated in the dialogue on Friday, February 5th. She said it went really well: “There was a lot of thoughtful conversation. We were able to voice a lot of our opinions and questions, and reach interesting conclusions. It was eye opening to hear the speakers talk about their personal experience with the Hijab, whether it was wearing it, or having people they love wear it.”
“But”, she added, “There is a lot I will never understand about what women who wear the Hijab go through and I recognize that, though I learned a bit more by participating in both the awareness event and the dialogue about what I can do to be an ally.”
Dialogue event
World Hijab Day at UVA has grown significantly since last year. With more awareness about the mission and a greater general turnout, we can look forward to a bigger event next year, and a larger dialogue about the hijab, the purpose of World Hijab Day, and the criticisms surrounding it.