Hijab-wearers reveal true feelings on anonymous app

Muslim women take to app to express negative comments from strangers


Web Desk August 27, 2015
PHOTO: AFP

Several Muslim women took to Whisper, an app that allows people to secretly admit to things they'd never dare say in public, to reveal their true feelings about wearing hijab and the negative attention they receive.

Many women who wear the hijab complained that the sight of the headscarf invited negative comments from strangers while one woman confessed that men have even called her 'sexy'.

Read: Hijab-wearing Muslim student voted best-dressed at US school

“I hate when guys tell me my hijab is sexy and leaves more to the imagination. I'm wearing my hijab for God, not for you.”

Some women recalled their experiences of walking down the street wearing a headscarf and being labelled a terrorist. One woman even said once someone threw a stone at her.

PHOTO: WHISPER

One woman revealed that while wearing the headscarf she felt "more confident and prettie"’, although another said she felt guys did not give her a "second look because of hijab."

Other women confessed to sometimes not wearing their hijab. One woman posted, "I secretly share pics of me not wearing my hijab on the internet."

PHOTO: WHISPER

Another woman said she sometimes took off her hijab to go out with friends but that some of them were 'totally against' her doing it. "I work so hard to remind people I'm a normal human being. They only see the hijab," wrote one confessor who felt her scarf was a barrier for her.

PHOTO: WHISPER

Several women confessed that they were pressurised into covering their heads. One said she did it to "keep her husband happy" and another revealed that she risked losing her family if she removed her scarf.

Read: Cops, harassers laugh after Muslim mother's 'headscarf’ was yanked off in London

On the other hand, many did say that they were not oppressed and loved wearing their hijab. "Hijab is my crown," one wrote.

PHOTO: WHISPER

While another confessed, "Wearing a hijab makes me feel safe. I feel like my hijab is protecting me from all of the bad than can come from the outside world." And yet another wrote, "I have nothing against women who choose not to cover. I made a choice with my body and so did they, we should both be respected for it."

This article originally appeared on The Daily Mail

COMMENTS (3)

hari | 8 years ago | Reply Well, it certainly puts my wonderful imagination to work! Horror will be if they take off their burqas and crush my fantasy. Lol!
Stranger | 8 years ago | Reply Hijab / Nikaab I don't care . please feel free to cover your hair / neck but show your pretty face ladies. How else do I know I am sitting / standing next to a girl and not a man ?
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