The strength of a scarf

I think that many people in the West have a similar reaction to women wearing the headscarf. While in Muslim culture, women wearing the headscarf are broadcasting to others their commitment to their religion and subsequently given respect, in our society there is a prevailing attitude that it somehow takes away their identity and makes them suspect.

In the ongoing debate about wearing hoodies in Britain, teenagers cited their preference for wearing hoodies because they allowed them to blend into the crowd and become anonymous.

My experience of wearing the headscarf was that it had the complete opposite effect. Even though over time I did get used to wearing the scarf and feeling less self-conscious about it, it always felt like a red flag to me, making me more visible.

Stories I’d heard about women having scarves ripped from their heads by strangers on the street made me wary of interacting with other people. With the headscarf on I found a new safety in being with other girls who were also fellow “scarfies”. On my own I felt nervous and vulnerable.

Wearing a headscarf in today’s political climate isn’t an easy decision for young women to make.

One girl, a first year at university, told me that it was difficult for her to make friends. She noticed people giving her strange looks all the time and no one wanted to sit next to her in lectures. She didn’t understand the animosity towards her headscarf. “If I decide to dress more modestly and cover my hair, why is that a problem? If I ask people to judge me, not by how I look, but how I am, why is that so bad?”

Scarves are made of flimsy material, yes, but try to rip them apart and you’ll find that they’re stronger than you’d think.