I have not studied Islam as deeply as I could, but I have had some study in it through both college courses in comparative Western religion and my own readings. I think what is difficult for me in understanding Islam is that it seems quite tied to certain cultural practices at times, and there seems to be a lot of internal contention about what it is to be a good Muslim. In this regard, I suppose it is quite a bit like Christianity, with which I am more familiar.
The treatment and "place" of women in society, and the modest dress code, is one such issue- and a very big one to me, when I try to understand Islam. The wearing of hijab does not bother me in the least. Although I do believe all women should be given freedom of choice in their dress, I do not believe women who choose modest dress such as the hijab are necessarily oppressed. I think it is at least as oppressive to live with the Western world's constant and glaring media-based and consumerist imperatives to be slimmer, younger, prettier, etc. as it would be to have a dress code. However, I do not think that dress codes should be mandatory, as that would seem to mandate something that, even in Islam, should be a personal moral choice, and a demonstration of personal commitment and faith.
That said, I find hijab and Muslim clothing in general to be stunningly beautiful, as well as comfortable. I've entertained off and on for about two years going "plain" as Quakers do, but one thing that turns me off about Quaker plain dress (which you can see at
Quaker Jane - Limiting your palette in an addle-pated world. Plain dress, quakers and spirituality.) is that I find it, well, plain.
![Eek! :eek: :eek:](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
I've tried it once or twice and it feels uncomfortable (too stiff, too historical, too HOT on a warm day) and it just doesn't fit my personality. I'm artsy. I don't think it's a problem to love color and embroidery and such- God gave us these gifts (in my opinion) and the appreciation of beauty, and Nature is filled with beauty and color and vibrancy. I have some Muslim clothing I bought from Shukr online (though no hijab) and I find them lovely, professional, and very comfortable. If I ever wore a head covering, I'd go with a scarf- just more comfy to me than a cap. However, so far I just don't feel led to wear head covering and I don't see my hair as that enticing. On bad hair days or when I'm running late though, I can definitely see the value.
At any rate, I wanted to point out for Serenity that traditional dress codes and concerns with modesty and/or plainness are not only Islamic issues and there is a great deal of variety in Christianity. In fact, some Christian denominations, and many individuals, do not see Jesus as God, as well. It is sad to me that some Christian churches shove people outside the community due to differences in how they interpret Jesus. I find it more important to follow Jesus' life and teachings than to define "who" Jesus is relative to God. For me, it is sufficient to see God as the Being Beyond and Within All- that God is too big for me to comprehend or define. Jesus showed us the perfect human life, and His own words were more about encouraging action and right behavior than specific belief. As a Christ-follower (most closely like Quaker, but with more Episcopalian practice), I do not find Muslim ideas about God troubling. In fact, I find them inherently understandable- God is One- and I am too tiny to comprehend God.
However, much of Islam simply doesn't work for me culturally. I can't grasp it and it wouldn't even work in my household. For example, the idea about obeying one's husband. My husband would find that abhorrent. He doesn't want to be obeyed. He likes us to lead our household together, as a team. We do not find it very difficult to make decisions together through discussion and weighing the options and compromising. We are equal partners in intelligence and ethics, and we are each other's source for advice and problem-solving. I can't imagine forcing all the responsibility for decisions onto him. It seems... lazy. Because he doesn't want it. He wants shared responsibility. And I am happy to shoulder my half of the burden. We walk together, hand in hand, so that each of us is there for the other if either should stumble.
In a culture or marriage where men want all the decision-making responsibility and women don't want any of it, it seems that perhaps that would work just as well. But it seems to me that every marriage is going to be unique because you have new and different people in it. And to have one idea about how decisions get made, or something like that- that seems very restrictive for both men and women, and seems to ignore our fundamental diversity, which is given to us by God.
At any rate, hopefully I have not offended any by my ramblings. I just wanted to put forth some of my thoughts and offer up some musings on the matter as a woman from the US who is not Muslim and yet doesn't find modest dress to be an issue of freedom. I believe women should be free to dress however they choose, and no woman should be judged or given less opportunity because she wears hijab or modest dress.