I want to start this by clarifying that I still don’t identify as a feminist. I don’t agree with so many aspects of modern feminism. I believe a woman can cover up and that it is NOT oppression. In some cases, however, it is. I’m drawing attention to that.
Before I wore the abaya, and even the hijab, someone once tried to convince me that women must cover up because we must be responsible for attracting men. That men and women are inherently different, and that men are more likely to be attracted to physical aspects of a woman than vice versa. Because men are dogs.
The only part of that I agreed to was the fact that we are inherently different, to an extent. And that has largely been the basis for me urging women to continue to be modest for their own sake; men, however, piss me off. Really, I don’t think all men are dogs. I think many men are respectful, particularly in light of how many men support the right of a woman to do whatever the heck she wants. It’s only the mentality of Muslim men that made me think ‘yep. Dogs’. Nonetheless, I agreed to that explanation and kept quiet. Because what could I say? Well today is the day I step up and say that this is fucking bullshit.
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Tag: muslim women
Hey Assbutt: Hijabi beauty bloggers
Can I just start of with a little anecdote; I recently finished reading The Hours [for my Health & Illness module at university], and I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that I liked so much and that made me want to jump out of the window at the same time. For that reason I give it a 7/10 because it’s beautifully written, and the distressing nature of the novel is intentional – I just didn’t care about the characters. If you want to read about depression, though, and a truly accurate portrayal of it, read this novel. Put down your YA fiction about cigarettes and broken hearts, novels that you know will have a happy ending, and pick up this one that will put you into the roadblocked mind of three women. It has a way of making you feel their depression without actually using the word ‘depression’.
Moving on, I’m revisiting a topic that I’ve been over time and time again. ‘Hijabi’ beauty bloggers. YouTubers. Aspiring make up artists. These women is they are perceived as ‘strong’ because they’re Muslim women who are making something out of their lives – they’re successful considering they’re Muslim.
However, to claim that they are ‘successful Muslim women’ is just atrocious. They’re successful women, sure. But successful ‘Muslim’ women?
How do you define success as a Muslim woman when the reason for your success goes against Islam? Call yourself a successful woman. Not a successful Muslim woman. [By the way, there isn’t anything successful about doing makeup and showing off your clothes on the internet. Anybody can do it, everybody does do it. There, I SAID IT.]
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#NoHijabDay
So this day happened earlier this month.
‘If you are free to not wear hijab for one day then don’t wear hijab, in solidarity with with women without that freedom’
Poor grammar was replicated as it was in the original statement. Let’s just get straight into it.
Do I wear a scarf on my head as an accessory? A fashion statement? Do I wear this for fun, in that I just take it off whenever I want? Who are you, even?
I feel for the women who are forced to wear hijab, but that doesn’t mean I should take mine off. As if when I take it off, other women magically gain freedom. Even if they did, I still wouldn’t.
Soz
Wearing hijab should be a choice, but it’s also obligatory in Islam. Why should another woman take hers off in ‘solidarity’.
Hijab is more than just a cloth on your head. It’s modesty, it’s your character and behaviour. Since you want to take it off in celebration of ‘no hijab day’, why don’t you spend the day being shitty to every single person you meet, brag about everything and just generally be a despicable human being. Remove your humbleness. Remove your good character. Remove your hijab.
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Hey Assbutt: Noor Tagouri
Noor Tagouri, a Muslim woman in a hijab who posed for playboy.
I’m a bit late to the party.
The same Noor Tagouri I used to admire for the way she defended Muslim women, the same woman who has now made me completely change my mind and fiercely oppose her way of thinking.
Posing for playboy.
I get it
I get that her intentions were not bad, I get that she didn’t do it with the aim of being ogled at by the disgusting men that read that magazine.
I get that her intentions were to show that she is a modest, strong woman and that society can’t define our success. I get that she intended to show that you can advance in life without conforming to standards of beauty.
But playboy? Is that really the place to do that? The entire reason for Playboy is to objectify women, so the only viable outcome of this is that you are encouraging men to also see Muslim women as sexy and objectifiable.
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