Fascination with traditional garments of other cultures is increasingly common in the fashion industry. We’ve seen people sport dashikis and Indian hair accessories, but where do we draw the line between fashion trend and cultural appropriation?
Attire is a significant part of a person’s culture, and yet it is widely used as a fashion statement. As we approach World Hijab Day on Feb. 1, we need to remember that the hijab has cultural significance; it’s not a political or fashion statement. World Hijab Day is a day for women of non-Muslim faith to wear a hijab for a day and feel how Muslim women feel everyday of their lives.
According to beliefnet.com, Muslim women wear hijabs when out in public as a symbol of modesty ordained by their God. An aspect of Islam is that a woman should be modest in both her appearance and actions. Not only does wearing a hijab have religious meaning, but it is also a cultural declaration, and it is a part of the wearer’s cultural identity.
We should all take notice of World Hijab Day. In Western cultures, many feel that women should be free to sport short shorts and flip flops as much as they please, so many of us have a hard time understanding Islam. Sometimes, people look down on Muslim women for their attire, and it’s as if people lose sight of the right to religious expression.
Although non-religious head garments are common in other cultures, such as in the African American community, recently, they’re becoming more popular in the younger Western generation due to pop culture influences. Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner and Paris Hilton are all known for wearing a head covering or two. Then we have Rihanna, who was asked to leave the Abu Dhabi mosque located in the United Arab Emirates after posing for the camera on the sacred grounds in a hijab, red lipstick and a gold chain.
It seems as if the evolution of what some people perceive to be fashion has lead them to inappropriately wear religious garments. Moreover, others who do not see wearing religious garments as fashionable tend to write it off as some form of oppression against women. Despite popular misconception, plenty of Muslim women choose not to wear a hijab in an everyday setting, while others are more traditional and sport them daily. We should always consider that maybe they choose to dress that way.
It’s true that many of the Americanized younger generations tend not to wear the hijab as frequently as their ancestors, but that does not mean that the hijab’s significance decreases. Even if women do not wear the hijab every day, they will still wear them to traditional events and settings.
Religion, or even choosing to have no religion at all, plays a huge part in how one identifies him or herself, which is why Muslim women wear hijabs. So an entire day focused on bringing acknowledgement to hijabs is exciting; others are making an effort to understand the diversity around them.
With that said, the people taking part in World Hijab Day should be doing it because they want to understand culture and not because they think it makes them look foreign or want to seem politically enlightened. It’s OK to admire something, or even be genuinely curious, but, sometimes, we express our admiration inappropriately. It may be hot in Florida, but wearing a hijab with booty shorts will not suffice.
Many people convert or develop strong connections to religions and cultures that aren’t theirs by birthright, and that’s OK. We have to remember that we cannot half step. If one chooses to take part in this commemorative day, wearing the hijab should be done the correct way, by way of the Muslim faith.
We have to remember to show respect to different cultures, especially living in an area as diverse as South Florida. We should also remember that what we see as harmless might offend others. That doesn’t mean walk on eggshells and not live life in fear of offending others, but we should remember that hijabs and other cultural headwear all have meaning, and turning that into a fashion trend is disrespectful.
Over the years, varies fashion trends have led many of us to exploit henna and rosaries without question. There’s something about the American culture that craves cultural appropriation, and many of us have become so accustomed to it that we see nothing wrong with it. Let us take this time to learn history, share love, respect our neighbors and appreciate the diversity around us.
