How the Hijab Became a Symbol of Strength and Empowerment, Not Oppression

As global citizens, we must recognize the history, cultural development, and symbolism of the hijab and why women choose whether or not to wear it.

by Yasmine Chang

Graphic by Sarah Tocci

The hijab, an Islamic head covering, should not be a point of contention to Western society—or anyone, for that matter.

Throughout history, the global debate over the hijab has grown significantly to the point of mass demonstrations arguing for or against the rights of Muslim women to choose. However, I urge everyone to challenge the narrative that the hijab is a symbol of oppression. Rather, a symbol of strength and resilience among Muslim women. 

The Quran, the main Islamic text, encourages modesty. This can manifest in veiling practices such as wearing head/body coverings such as the hijab, burqa, or niqab. However, Surah Al-Baqarah, a chapter of the Quran, emphasizes that Islam does not condone compulsion. It states: “Let there be no compulsion in religion, for the truth stands out clearly from falsehood. So whoever renounces false gods and believes in Allah has certainly grasped the firmest, unfailing hand-hold. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.”

“I got really lucky with the way I was raised by my parents, they obviously set boundaries for me growing up so I’d know who I was, but I think at my age, I feel that having the choice on when I'm going to put [the hijab] on or not is really empowering,” said junior Khadeja Usmani.

Usmani currently doesn't wear a hijab, and she described the decision as heavily based on her religious foundation.

“I was actually gonna put it on at the beginning of my junior year…and I ultimately decided not to, because I felt as if the decisions behind wearing them, the foundation wasn't strong enough,” Usmani said. “Such a momentous decision needs to be made on a really solid foundation of faith…mine wasn't at that moment, it was more so my friends encouraging me—and I love them for encouraging me—but I felt like I was doing it more so for them, rather than myself.”

Controversy around the hijab mainly focuses on the donning of a head covering and is primarily targeted toward women. Although widely known as a headscarf, it can also refer to a “barrier” or “covering.” It encompasses modesty in dress and behavior for both men and women.

“The most important way that [hijab] applies to people is their behavior and the way that they approach life and approach the people around them,” Usmani said. “You need to be modest and humble with the way you treat others and with the way you carry yourself.”

Usmani believes that, as a society, the fixation with the headscarf as a symbol of the hijab has gone too far.

Mahsa Amini died in the custody of Iran’s morality police for not wearing a hijab, while Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha and Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha were murdered by a neighbor for wearing it. The French government seeks to place hijab bans on women in sports, while the Iranian government forces women to wear it by law.

Simply having the ability to choose to wear a hijab or not is so empowering, as hijabs aren’t about anything but one’s own faith. Too many try to police Muslim women for practicing religion in ways that are meaningful to them.

We, as Boston University students, should be more mindful of the cultural significance of the hijab and understand that it’s a woman’s right to choose whether to wear one or not.