i've recenty started wearing the hijab. In the past few years leading onto it it seemed like a huge burden, an unnecessary additional piece of garment thats only purpose was to cramp your style. But back then all we cared about was making sure our hair was the "in" colour and cut, and going on hard-core dieting schemes to fit into pants that were tighter than our own skin. But lately all that vanished and a sense of calm and serenity eclipses your mindset, and all those adolescent yearnings seem, well childish.
But now i face another hurdle. Living as a minority in a predominantly Christian nation, you automatically and inevitably become an unofficial ambassador for your faith once you wear the hijab. I live on the coast where going to the shopping centre barefoot and in bikinis is the norm in summer and im the pink elephant in the room. But this is not a negative hurdle. I love being asked questions about my religion. If they are willing to be curious we should honour that desire to know and explain. I do find it funny though how the questions from so many people arent that diverse. Its always "Don't you feel hot in that?" or "Seriously, why?!" . And so you reply, Yes sometimes it is hot but thats what air conditioning is for, and I do it because I believe it to be a detrimental component of me practicing my faith.
It is hard sometimes to convey the reasons behind the hijab to non-muslims. They sometimes cant seem to wrap how shrouding yourself from head to toe in material has any benefit. So i say to them when you wear the hijab, you are not opressing womanhood, but liberating it. When i wear hijab i have much more confidence, and i feel more feminine than those who burnt their bras.
I know this site was meant to be about fashion but I thought i needed to say this. So to society i say don't judge muslim women as opressed "tea-towel" cladded ladies, but as every day aussies just trying to live our life, just without the VB's, BLTs and LBDs.
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