By Pavarti K. Tyler
Hijab
is the headscarf some Muslim women wear. There is great debate over
the need, use and appropriateness of the hijab, which has fueled
cultural debate and conflict. In Islam there is a cultural practice of
covering a woman’s hair and neck, this is considered modest dress and
the roots of the practice are based in the Qu’ran. There are multiple
surahs (verses) and hadiths (oral histories) which are used to explain
the need for men and women to dress modestly.
The
specifics of what needs to be covered is controversial. Some say only
the hair must be covered, others say everything but the eyes and hands
should be. From Burquas in Afghanistan to hijabs in France, it seems
everyone has an opinion.
In
2001, right after 9/11, I participated in an event called “Sisters for
Solidarity.” The sponsoring group was an interfaith movement for social
awareness. Over 200,000 women in the US donned hijab for Eid Al-Fitr, a celebration that marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.
Somewhere
in the depths of my basement there is a picture of me with a beautiful
red-and-gold scarf covering my hair and neck. For three days in
November, 2011, I went to work, the grocery store, church and everywhere
else with my hair covered.
I
could discuss the political reasons for doing this, or my own religion
beliefs, but what I learned during those three days has nothing to do
with either. I donned a headscarf for very personal reasons, which I
believed deeply and still hold dear. And every moment I wore it, I felt
stronger in my convictions. Something about a physical declaration of
my beliefs was empowering and liberating.
I
also felt a part of something. Other women in hijab would stop, smile
and speak with me no matter where we were. It was a kind of sisterhood I
haven’t experienced in other parts of my life. Even when they found
out I wasn’t Muslim, the kind response I received for what I was doing
was deeply touching.
Simultaneously,
I found the covering very oppressive. It was hot under there, and kept
slipping. This was probably mostly due to my inexperience, but I found
it physically cumbersome and something that needed constant monitoring.
I was also very surprised to find that a number of co-workers with
whom I had been close to did not speak with me during the days I was
wearing hijab. I received sideways glances on the bus and subway, not
the usual smiles and commuter camaraderie I was accustomed to.
There are three female characters in my novel, Shadow on the Wall.
Each has an opinion of and relationship with wearing the hijab. I
pulled on my short experience to inform how I wrote these characters.
Rebekah, Darya and Maryam - each of them represents a different
archetype of Middle Eastern women. While it's certainly not an
exhaustive representation, the issues of gender and the veil are
explored in depth through the course of the story.
What I learned during the Sisters for Solidarity movement - and what I hope Shadow on the Wall
conveys - is that covering is a deeply personal experience. Ideally
each woman would be able to decide for herself without the pressures of
politics, family or cultural assumptions. Unfortunately, we don’t live
in that world, which is what makes the discussion so volatile.
I’m curious as I move into publishing Shadow on the Wall how readers will feel about these women. Which will they respond to? With which will they identify?
Author Bio:
Pavarti
K Tyler is an artist, wife, mother and number cruncher. She graduated
Smith College in 1999 with a degree in Theatre. After graduation, she
moved to New York, where she worked as a Dramaturge, Assistant Director
and Production Manager on productions both on and off Broadway.
Later,
Pavarti went to work in the finance industry as a freelance accountant
for several international law firms. She now operates her own accounting
firm in the Washington DC area, where she lives with her husband, two
daughters and two terrible dogs. When not preparing taxes, she is busy
working at Novel Publicity and penning her next novel.
My blog is all ages: http://www,fightingmonkeypress.com
My tumblr is 18+ only: http://pavartidevi.tumblr.com/
My Fan Page needs your likes: https://www.facebook.com/#!/FMPress
My Twitter likes friends: http://twitter.com/#!/PavartiKTyler
My Google+ is random: https://plus.google.com/?gpinv=JFSVnKSj7Uk:FdjR-3NCJW8#me/posts
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