The Hijab Between Secularism and Piety
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By Nadia Pervez
| Grade Level(s): |
Middle School, High School |
| Subject Area(s): |
World History, World Cultures |
| Instructional Time: |
1 Class Period |
This lesson is provided free of charge. The lesson is based on a reading selected from a contemporary journalistic source. CIE is in no way affiliated with the author or publisher of the source. The source was utilized solely for its value as an educational tool.
Overview
The purpose of this lesson is to elicit discussion on the contemporary meaning of hijab and the various reactions it draws from different cultures.
Procedure
Motivation: Ask students to discuss the following question with a partner. Then, regroup as a class and share responses.
- Does the way you dress convey something about the person you are?
Provide specific examples to illustrate your point of view.
- Read article “Damned If You Do, Damned if You Don’t”, Egypt Today, Sept. 2003 as a class. (article is available for download in PDF form)
- After reading the article, break students into groups of four and ask them to discuss the following questions:
General Note: You may want to answer questions #1 and #2 as a class to make sure everyone has a general understanding of key terms like hijab and muhajibet.
Discussion Questions:
- Drawing on what you learned in the article and your own personal knowledge, what is hijab?
- What would you call a woman who wears a veil in Egypt?
- When someone wears hijab, do you assume something about their personality? If yes, what do you assume?
- Do you think the following statement from the article rings true? “When you’re in a bikini, people see you as an open-minded, modern, independent girl; but put on the veil and you become backward, ignorant and submissive.” Explain your response.
- Are you surprised that Salem had negative reactions towards her hijab while living in Egypt, a predominantly Muslim country?
- Based on the reaction she got at work, what generalizations can you make about how some people in Egypt view the veil.
- Should company uniform codes accommodate religious practices? Describe instances of when they should or shouldn't.
- According to the article, does Salem want to live in an “Islamic State?” What type of government and society do you think she favors?
- According to women interviewed in the article, why did they shy away from wearing hijab in the past?
- Why do they choose to wear it now? Think of religious and non-religious reasons.
- Why do some Muslims disagree with the veil?
- Why do “some see the veil as an obstacle to women’s liberation?” Do you agree with this statement or can the veil be liberating? Explain.
- Why do some veiled women take the hijab off when they are at work? Do you agree with their decisions?
Assessment:
You are the President of Egyptian Radio and Television Union (ERTU), the state-run television system in Egypt. You need to decide whether Maha Samir should remain a TV announcer now that she has decided to wear hijab. She has just walked into your office to listen to your decision. What will you say to her and how will you justify your decision? Draft a short speech outlining the major points you will make when meeting with her.
You may download all or part of this material in PDF format from the Publishing Details box on the right.
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