Challenging the attitudes

First day of class and all i wanted to do was just to sit back and assimilate all that i had missed in prior classes and all that was going on today. To my pleasant surprise what i had been expecting to be an oration of historical facts and events turned out to be a lively debate on the rightness or lack thereof of women covering themselves up primarily in the Muslim culture but also in other cultures such as here in the US.

Whereas some saw it as a means of oppression and couldn't believe that a woman would choose to cover up as a feminist stance or of her own voluntary will, i was of the opinion that its a woman's choice which i would willingly take because of how it can instill confidence, dignity and a higher self-esteem- not to mention that people would likely treat me with more respect than if i were more scantily clad. In fact, i find the hijab could very well be a fashionable item to have in one's wardrobe and i would wear it without either being forced, feeling oppressed or less of a woman. The act of covering oneself up as opposed to minimal clothing impacts how people perceive and react to you and in my mind the choice solely lies in the hands of the woman herself (if not then it should) depending on the impression she is trying to make.