writing_womans_lives_symposium_paper_book_v2

narrative that Muslims are terrorists. As a result many of the interviewees are self‐conscious of the
way they behave in public. For instance, the women would make sure to smile in order to make
others feel comfortable. A simple smile provides others with a sense of security. The women might
not need the smile to be reciprocated, but they still feel the need give a smile. The women recalled
making sure that they gave smiles while they were at work and not. Many even stated that they
tried to reverse stereotypes. They attempted to become agents of change in order to dispel the
misconceptions of hijab. As Dina states, “Sometimes when I do mistakes, everyone is watching. I do
not want to give the wrong impression because they associate it right to the hijab. I do not want
that. I do not want me as a person to give a bad image to something that is great.” The interviewees
articulated that they feel like their actions can also be representing Muslims. Sarah, who recently
started wearing hijab explained how society viewed her after wearing hijab, saying,
People can associate me with the religion and especially now a day when you do
something with hijab you are seen as a Muslim. If I hold the door for you they do not see
it as a regular thing. They see it as “look at the Muslims so nice well mannered.” You can
not lie, but for people are going to say the Muslim lied to me, or the Muslim’s cheating
me. ‘These people are a bunch of thieves.’ Now you are representing the religion. Because
of the hijab right away people right away know that you are Muslim. So the spotlight is on
you.
According to Killian, “A particularly telling example is the frequent belief that minority members
can control perceptions of themselves, even to the point of preventing racism.” 7 Since social change
is an on‐going process, the women use their hijab to depict positive acts in an effort to transform
Islam’s misrepresentation and negative stereotypes. The interviewees act as important contributors
in creating a new, positive representation of Islam in the U.S.A. Their actions, specifically their
workplace interactions, will provide a more complete, complex picture of Islam. Through their
statements, the interviewees share that Muslims are diverse; therefore, the women are not
representing Muslims as an entity, but providing their version of a Muslim. They attempt to open a
nuanced dialogue with outsiders about the character of Muslim women, and by empowering
themselves; the interviewees try to produce structural change in the U.S.A. The hijab can be
recognized as a form of agency, as it mediates muhajibhs actions in American society.
Many of the interviewees used the advantage of wearing hijab to better themselves and
American society’s image of Islam. Hijab is also used as a tool to send non‐verbal messages. As Saba
Mahmood defines agency, “if we think of ‘agency’ not simply as a synonym for resistance to social
norms but as a modality of action, then this conversation raises some interesting questions about the
kind of relationship established between the subject and the norm, between performative behavior
and inward disposition.” 8 Mahmood also states, “women’s ability to survive within a system of
inequality and to flourish despite its constraints.” 9 Mahmood’s explanation of agency is expressed in
the conversations with the interviewees. For example Khadijah a technician at a pharmaceutical
company, explains how wearing hijab helped her have a more assertive personality. She states, “I
learned I could be strong, I could stand up for myself. I was actually quieter, I could never speak in
front of people. Now I can. It made me stronger as a person. It made me stand for what is right.” For
Khadijah she realized that by wearing hijab her personality evolved. Not only has hijab assisted
women to become more confident some of the interviewees claimed that it gave them power to
reduce sexual attention. For instance Yasmeen claims that her co‐workers would tell her to wear
makeup. However Yasmeen responds with “Aren’t they interested in the product, they are not going
to date me.” She continued to explain to that she went to college for all these years and doesn't
want others to base their judgment on her looks. Yasmeen chooses to wear no makeup and long
loose fitting clothes to work, and that has become an advantage to her. In this case, hijab gave
Yasmeen power and privilege. She claims that she was put in a better position at work because her
employer respected that she came to work focused only on getting her job accomplished.
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