I truly believe that the girls who wear hijab, and those who don’t, are not seperated by this symbol of faith. Nor should they be. The community is certainly not divided in that sense, and I know many many non-hijabi girls who don’t discriminate and seperate themselves from hijabi’s in their community! Rather they welcome them!

“One stereotype I have always come across in the work environment is that muslim women that do not wear hijab are somehow not really part of the community. Something like this breaks that stereotype and shows that we are not divided..”

I respect your perspective but to me this works the opposite way. It reinforces the stereotype that all practicing Muslim women wear the hijab. It reinforces the belief that Muslim women who do not wear the hijab are not part of the community. And that is not just a belief. It is a very definite reality for many Muslim women. And many communities are indeed and unfortunately divided on this issue, whether we like to acknowledge it or not.

I am still confused though how this breaks the stereotype that women who do not wear hijab are not a part of the community. Could you clarify this a little? Thanks!

Additionally, could we not have found another symbol for Muslim women, one that all Muslim women could relate to and not just a select few?

I understand your point, but here’s a different perspective. I’m a South African who doesn’t wear the Hijab. I distributed pink scarves and a message on breast cancer awareness to women in my department at work from a range of racial and religious backgrounds for Pink Hijab Day. The message I was hoping to send out is that as a muslims don’t only respond to issues that are political (like Palestine) or issues that affect themselves but universal issues such as breast cancer. I think Hijab is something that the population at large often associates with Muslim women so I saw the Pink Hijabs as more symbolic of a muslim lead initiative than ribbons, for example. The response was fantastic and positive. One stereotype I have always come across in the work environment is that muslim women that do not wear hijab are somehow not really part of the community. Something like this breaks that stereotype and shows that we are not divided, but respecting of each others differences in clothing. I wore the hijab around my neck as did most of the women I gave it to. Maybe some would find this counter to the aims of the day. However, when people asked what was happening, the response from all the non-muslim women wearing it was that it was Pink Hijab Day. Isn’t that a good way to destigmitise the Hijab and break its association with oppression?

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How about shattering the stereotype that all Muslim women wear the hijab?

“The stigma associated with breast cancer in Middle Eastern countries has been well-documented”…..”In June of 2006, the State Department established the US-Middle East Partnership for Breast Cancer Awareness ”

So is this for Muslim women or Middle Eastern women? Or Middle Eastern Muslim women? What about breast cancer in South Asia? South East Asia? Sub-Saharan Africa?

As a Muslim woman who is not Middle Eastern and who has never nor will ever wear the hijab, is it not enough for me to wear the pink ribbon and still be seen as a Muslim woman supporting breast cancer research? I’m not saying that Muslim women who wear the hijab should not participate in Pink Hijab Day – it’s a great way for them to demonstrate their support. But I resent that I would be almost be expected to wear a pink hijab to show my support.