VEILED: PERSPECTIVES
Naureen lived in Pakistan prior to moving to Canada in 1998. Back home it
was accepted as a cultural norm for girls around the age of 15 to begin practising covering. Some girls began earlier than others but in general terms,
that was the median age when girls are expected to begin veiling. As an athletic girl, her first impressions of the hijab were the interferances it may bring
about through wearing it. Now she understands a lot of it is also how you portray yourself. If you see a hijabi girl playing sports in no way will you question
her ability to participate in such activities because you have witnessed that it
can be done and not as widely uncommon as normally thought to be.
When she was first introduced to it as a young teenager she was concerned
with how people would see her. A lot of her classmates did not veil. As any
other teenager, she was aware of her social surrounding. Every teenager is
aware of their body, changes they see physically, their self-image, and are frequently intimidated by others around them. Her mother coached her on how
to answer any questions that may arise such as “why do you wear the hijab?”
By progressively being introduced to the veil and Islam, Naureen was able to
grow more and more comfortable with the idea. She was able to fathom why
she was different from other girls and why it was recommended she practise
covering and essentially what the reason was of why girls around 15 begin to
wear the veil.
Slowly and gradually Naureen was able to settle into the hijab. It wasn’t a
forced action, it was more of a learning step-by-step process and engagement.
She began wearing it at more formal occasions when she was dressed up but
disregarded it in her everyday school social environment where she already
wore her school uniform. As she went into college, she integrated her hijab
into her college years and began wearing it permanently.
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