A few years back, when I was a confused pre-teen, I of course was trying to find my "place". I grew up in a Muslim family and always classed myself as Muslim, it wasn't something I ever questioned until I was in Qatar during the summer.
I was wondering around in a pair of Hollister shorts and a plain white shirt until I felt like I was being looked at. I was getting looks from other women and men that made me feel uncomfortable.
When I got back to my aunts house I was confused, why were these people giving me dirty looks? why did they look at me funny when I spoke Arabic to my mother or my aunt? (who wears the hijab), I shrugged it off until one of my aunts old friends came to visit, during the conversation she discovered that I was fasting that day, her face dropped and she quickly excused herself and left.
I was confused, but then it hit me... I didn't look Muslim and by showing my legs I apparently wasn't worthy of calling myself one.
Over the next few months I wasn't sure what to do, I loved my faith but I also didn't believe that a women should have to cover herself because men can't help but look lustfully.
That is when I read about feminism and finally understood where I belonged, everything they believed I did too! it was incredible I finally found my place however I thought that now I had to pick between my religion and something I was truly passionate about.
.... My choice was feminism.
Over the next few months I was happy but I also felt lost, I found myself praying on occasion and talking to God, I was constantly trying to stop myself because I didn't feel like I was allowed to believe in God or call myself religious.
A year had passed and I still wasn't happy, I then read this blog post about this women feeling the same way I did, in her post she said that we shouldn't let other people's judgements define what you are.
You see the reason women cover themselves is to express their inner beauty, the reason I wear shorts is because it makes me feel good and pretty which in turn allows me to express my inner beauty and be myself.
When realising this, I knew I could be both.... a Muslim AND a Feminist.
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