21 February 2010

Hijabi Beginner: 5 Cons Of Hijab


I wrote a 5 Pros Of Hijab post a while back so I thought it was only fair to make a post on the cons too. This is so that you know what you are getting yourself into before you decide to put it on making you less likely to take it off later. And by 'it' I mean the headscarf as Hijab is not a cloth you can simply wear and in essence, is something that is applied to both sexes. So here goes:
.
1. Finding what clothes your are comfortable with can be a bit of a predicament at the start: Although most women who get to the point of wanting to wear the headscarf will be dressed pretty modestly already, some are not (including myself in that). I found it very hard when I first started wearing the scarf, to decide what 'sort' of hijabi I wanted to be. Abaya? Skirt? Jeans? Leggings..?! I tried them all and in the end settled for the middle (jeans/skirt). I would defiantly recommend you get that nailed and read on it thoroughly before covering your hair. Oh, and doooon't let any old person influence your decision - I did this and it led nowhere. In the end I realised that everyone has had different experiences, you just have to do what you feel is right.

2. 'Muslim' men.. The Quran explicitly and categorically commands men to lower their gaze and guard their chastity before it tells women to lower their gazes and cover. Paradoxically, I have found it is non Muslim men that fulfil this requirement by not 'checking out' hijabis or modestly dressed women and Muslim men that don't. Okay, firstly and obviously, they are not all like this so I am not making a sweeping generalisation but talking from experience. Secondly, this is never eeever a good thing nor should it be flattering - they look at anything that moves, it's really repulsive actually.

*Translation: "Nothing grabbed his attention.. except a french abaya.." - I'm pretty sure this is right but my Arabic reading isn't amazing so could somebody verify?

3. Shopping: Yes, that cute, pink 3/4 length sleeved dress will need to be bought with a perhaps not so cute long sleeved stretch top in future.. sorryy. And cardigans are pretty much a must but, of course, that's only a problem if you're not hot on them and who's not hot on cardigans?!
.
4. Bad Bun Days.. :S Basically the equivalent of a bad hair day. I had one on Friday, it was like a deflated souffle at the back of my neck which was really annoying and itchy.
.
5. Headphones: Omg, a nightmare to put on in public. It does depends on the style you are wearing and I think the most un-headphone-friendly hijab style has to be the Turkish wrap where you make a knot around the neck..
.
Soo that's pretty much it for me, hope it was helpful and doesn't put you off too much :S Oh, of course, there's the whole terrorist bomb thing blah blah blah.. but just as long as you don't wear a back pack (who would anyway?!) on a train/tube/bus and don't have a suspiciously large bun you should be alright..

19 comments:

hannah said...

I think this was a refreshingly honest post! (I don't mean you usually aren't honest hehe just that people don't always give honest 'cons' of beginning to wear hijab).

I wanted to say I am still in that stage of figuring out what style I am comfortable with. What a pain! And tricky on a small budget!! Right now I am leaning towards skirts/wide-leg jeans... but abayas are so graceful and seem cooler for summer weather!

Fati said...

I think that's a pretty fair Con list! Sometimes it does make shopping more difficult :) And it looks silly in my opinion to wear really tight clothing with a hijab on top, so that's a balance that you have to find too. But hamdallah that As much as it's second nature to me now to wear a hijab, sometimes those cons do pop up!! it is annoying with ear phones, BUT, it also hides them well in front of others ;)

http://www.foreverfatty.blogspot.com

Loofa said...

re: translation

put in "except" instead of "accept" and your translation is good to go

StylishMuslimah said...

Loofa: Loool instead of correcting my arabic that just points out my short-comings in english! Perhaps it's good that I didn't study it afterall! Thanks though :D
xxx

Zainab said...

Actually, I find headphones pretty easy to use. Just put them in before you put your hijab on, and then you can easily conceal them under your clothing. (great for boring classes :D)

Anonymous said...

lol i know what you mean about the headphone issue when im in a rush trying to put them in without my hair coming out love your blog by the way sister

aisha x

yusako said...

keif hal, ukhtii??

i agree with the pictures you have posted in.. :) I have ever thought it, it just already happen at my office.. :( abaya's sexier if it made to the body fit,... dislike it...

Shasharishi said...

It is so true what you say about men making a fuss when women are wearing hijab! I dont want to judge anyone as i am a part-timer at best (I had a lot of pressure the first time I started wearing hijab and it really put me off, plus being a fashionista it is a real struggle to commit full-time!) I made the mistake of walking down Hatfield rd on a Friday (where all the mosques and halal butchers are in my town)once without hijab, once with. Without hijab I was more or less ignored. With hijab I actually experienced young men whistling and shouting at me from a passing car just after they had exited the mosque! Mishmaool is all I can say! MISHMAOOL. This is a really great list, I love your blog it gives me so much encouragement, I am going to send it to my friend xx

Stephanie said...

My biggest con is that it's HOT in the summer. Sometimes the shopping thing bothers me too.

Delia said...

i'm a first timer reading your blog! a friend gave me your link..i think she's contemplating of wearing the hijab in the future, thus she loves to read your blog! =)
you are soooo right about the shopping thing. i've made too many mistakes of buying stuff which is not 'hijab worthy' thinking that with a long sleeve inner or my trustworthy long cardigan would complete the look! nowadays i gave away those outfits coz there's no way i'm gonna wear layers in this hot weather!!!

Anonymous said...

You didn't mention headaches! Maybe that was only a problem for me... also, I have terrible hearing loss, and I struggle to hear anyone when my ears are uncovered, but when covered - fuggedabouddit!

Anonymous said...

Good blog, but does anyone else suffer from hair loss or receeding hair line? Also it's a real struggle to wear it when living with brother-in-laws!

Anonymous said...

Good one. Ah, and I think another con would be when you have that little itch that you need to scratch on you head but your fingers are inadequate for scratching said itch...because of the multiple layers over it. -_-"

Unknown said...

i was searching for headphones and hijab and landed here..lol seems like all hijabis have same issue and pleeeeeeeeassseeeeee i beg you like anything if anyone can tell me how to wrap hijab like the lady is wearing in 2nd picture over purple top..it's a style i want to live with forever..please someone helppppppppp!

Anonymous said...

Why would anyone wear a hijab? You are beautiful intelligent women you should now better than go through all of this trouble just because a very old book says to do so!
Throw the hijab away please, i hate to see women wearing them its so depressing.

StylishMuslimah said...

Anon.. I'm sorry to hear that you hate seeing women wear the hijab and that it depresses you.. I feel exactly the same way when I see intelligent, beautiful women objectifying themselves.

I wouldn't take it off for the world, I feel liberated that I have chosen to wear it and not conform to modern ideals. Yes, the Quran is a very old book. It is also flawless and completely logical.

I do not need the modern times to "liberate" me, women were brought their rights by Islam :)

Anonymous said...

I love zaenabs answer to anonymous, i am a very modern woman with a lot of international exposure, i never wore hijab until recently and i couldnt have made a better choice. I feel liberated wearing hijab more than anything before Alhamdurillah

Cala said...

I am a Caucasian American who recently converted to Islam. I have always dressed extremely conservative so wearing the hijab was just a natural step for me. I did experience a lot of racism initially, but I have never felt more beautiful, more powerful, more virtuous then when I am wearing an Abaya and Hijab. :) Great blog btw I just started one about my conversion process, http://madisonsmuslimmommy.blogspot.com/ please check it out, and ladies feel free to message me with any tips, or advice. Thank you

safavi said...

wow.. a great blog. i started hejab quite early so i didnt have to worry about "starting" it :) about the headphone problem? well yeah thats quite an issue :( even if you try to do it before putting the hejab on, it is still a prob :(