Throughout this course, numerous examples of Muslim women who have expresses self-determination, when it comes to wearing the veil. Afshar introduces the story of a woman named, BLAH BALH, who explains her decision to start wearing the scarf at the age of 21. She explains how, for her, the decision to wear the scarf was political, as she was serving as president of the United Nations Students’ Association at her university, and wanted to claim her identity as a Muslim woman, and challenge the typical stereotypes that Muslim women hold. Her goal was to demonstrate how a woman who wears a hijab is not necessarily the weak minded, severely oppressed woman that the world often depicts her to be, and that she can instead be an educated and engaged professional. …show more content…
Samah recounted her journey with the veil and explained how she started wearing the veil when she was fourteen years old, as she felt connected to her identity as a Muslim woman and wanted to wear it, making it clear that she was in no way forced to. K on the other hand explained that she does not feel that the hijab represents who she is as a person, and how she works around the mandate in her country by sporting hats, or shear scarves, both of which could result in her arrest. This movie showcases two different Muslim women, whom carry different views on veiling, one finding it empowering and the other suppressed. With the different examples of Muslim women exhibited throughout the course readings and their different views on veiling, it’s clear that this is a personal decision that only Muslim women can form for themselves as individuals. One element that these women all share is their expression of autonomy and self-determination, by making that choice for themselves and speaking up about what the veil means to