Muslim Head Covering Research Paper

Contrary to popular belief, not all Muslim women are being oppressed into fully covering their bodies. Instead, a majority of Muslim women around the world have made the decision themselves to wear a head covering or veil. The belief concerning the oppression of Muslim women has resulted from the negative connotation of head coverings associated with Islam. Many people are convinced that Islamic head coverings represent fundamentalist Islam and oppression of Muslim women. This belief is highly misinformed and untrue. Muslim women who choose to veil do so to represent their dedication to their religion. In the past there were many Middle Eastern and African countries that banned different types of headscarves for security reasons or to protect their women.
Other types of head coverings that are the most recognizable include the niqab and the burqa. Both of these coverings completely conceal the hair and portions of the face but are slightly different. The burqa is recognized as a symbol of Islam around the world and wrongly associated with fundamentalist Muslim governments. A burqa is a garment that covers the body, head, and face. The wearer is able to see through a mesh panel in front of the face, but the fabric is thick enough that outside viewers cannot see the wearer’s face. The niqab is similar to the burqa because it conceals the head and body, but instead of a mesh panel in front of the face, there is a small slit that reveals the wearer’s eyes while the rest of the face is hidden by another piece of fabric. Although burqas have been required by some past extremist governments, they should not continue to be symbols of negativity for Muslim women. In order for the negative stereotypes involving Muslim head coverings to disappear, French society must understand that all Muslims do not represent terror groups or the fundamentalist side of the