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Unveiling Muslim tradition: A look under the hijab

By James Kruger
jkruger1@mscd.edu

The hijab, or traditional headscarf worn by Muslim women, is becoming more commonly seen as a part of American culture as the Muslim population grows. On March 17, Alexandra Contos offered students and faculty a look into the lives and customs of the women behind the veil.

Contos said her goal was to bring a greater understanding of Muslim women and their customs and to rip away misconceptions of the faith where women are forced to wear the hijab and are subjugated by men.

“The only way that any religion can survive in a society — it cannot be based on forcing people,” Contos said to a crowd of more than 30 people in the Multicultural Lounge at the Tivoli.

The event was sponsored by the Muslim Student Association and is part of a weeklong series of events to increase awareness of the faith, which, as Contos said, is not widely understood by non-Muslims.

Contos, a former Christian, studied cultural anthropology at UCD and found Islam when many kids discover keg stands — freshman year of college.

Followers of Islam believe God, or Allah, delivered his message through Muhammad and the Quran, the cornerstone of Muslim teachings. Contos said wearing the veil is a choice made by Muslim women to avoid being viewed as sex symbols.

“We think that being covered means being invisible,” she said.

“This scarf does not define me, but I do believe that it is important as symbol of my faith and a mark of honor given to me by the creator,” she said, adding Muslim women usually wear the veil only outside of the home and are not required to wear it in front of immediate blood relatives.

Contos said she had a great experience while attending college but wanted to give insight into what it is like to be in her shoes.

“I’m not a scholar. I’m not a professor. I do not have a Ph.D. I’m not a prominent speaker,” she said. “I’m just a young American Muslim woman.”

She also condemned the killing of young women who bring dishonor to the family, usually because of promiscuity or adultery.

The practice, called honor killing, has recently received media attention.

“Where is the honor in honor killing?” she asked the crowd, saying killing goes against the principles of Islam.

Parissa, a UCD student who requested her last name not be printed, appreciated how well Contos addressed the issues with Islam and outsiders’ perception of it.

“She pointed out basic flaws on both sides,” she said.

President of the MSA chapter at UCD, Saad Baradan, said Contos’ agreed the talk was effective in clearing up misconceptions — something the organization aims to do.

“Our goal is to reach out to students and teach them about Islam because a lot of people in the West can be ignorant about Islam,” he said.