As a Muslim, living in the United States can be a little tough.
Sometimes, religious customs such as Hijab are given the title of oppressive and sexist. In some cases, this is true, but ninety percent of the time these customs are a choice made by followers and not forced upon us.
In my case, Hijab was my choice. When I began High School, I made the choice to begin wearing Hijab. I didn’t make that choice because I was religious or because of any religious reason, I wanted to wear Hijab because the rest of my family wore Hijab. So, I jumped on the band wagon.
I wore Hijab, but I never felt connected to it — I never felt any spiritual connection to it. I felt superficial and fake. I would wear a scarf to school, but when I went to the mall or out with friends, l wouldn’t wear it. To me, Hijab started to feel like a chore, so I decided to quit. I didn’t feel like myself. I felt like a fake version of myself.
I didn’t want to wear Hijab as a chore or because of peer pressure. It’s meant be a spiritual connection between you and your religion, and if you don’t feel it, if you don’t feel like a hijab is something you love to wear, then don’t. It’s your choice. Not anyone else’s.
Thankfully, my parents and family gave the choice solely to me. They never forced me to wear Hijab, and they never once told me I should continue wearing Hijab when I no longer wanted to. I want people to know why I stopped so girls like me, who don’t feel connected to wearing their Hijab, don’t feel guilty.
One day when I feel that Hijab is for me, when I feel like it brings me closer to my religion, then I will start again, but for now I’m doing me.