Media representations of the hijab - Julie Posetti, University of Canberra
Definitions of key terms
- Hijab – a headscarf covering at least the
hair. (IWWC, 2005, p. 41) Hijab is the Arabic word for barrier and in
Islamic scholarship, it usually adopts the wider meaning of dressing
in a way that covers the hair, arms, and feet. Many Islamic scholars
interpret the Qur’an as requiring women of faith to wear the hijab
as a sign of modesty (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hijab,
accessed August 19, 2006).
- Chador – a long scarf which completely covers
a woman’s hair and body (IWWC, 2005, p. 41). A chador is a full-length
semi-circle of fabric open down the front and traditionally worn in
Iran. When total coverage became compulsory after the 1979 Iranian
Revolution, the chador began to be worn over a headscarf and a long
overcoat (jilbab).
Although traditionally white or patterned, black is now the universal
colour of the chador (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chador,
accessed August 19, 2006).
- Nikaab/Niqab – a veil that also covers all
or part of the face (IWWC, 2005, p 41). It is popular in the Middle
East but can also be found in North Africa, South-East Asia and the
Indian subcontinent. The niqab originated with the need for protection
in the harsh desert conditions of Arabia. Its primary use by modern
Muslim women is modesty: to keep non-mahram men (those who are not one’s
father, brother, husband or other intimate relation) from seeing a Muslim
woman’s face. However, most Islamic scholars believe that wearing
the niqab is not required of Muslim women (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niqab,
accessed August 19, 2006).
- Burqa – An all-encompassing robe that covers
the head, face and body down to the ankle. (IWWC, 2005). Similar to
a niqab, the burqa
covers the wearer’s entire face except for a small region about
the eyes. A full burqa
or Afghan burqa is a garment
that conceals the entire body. The full burqa includes a “net
curtain”, which also hides the wearer’s eyes. During the
Taliban’s reign
in Afghanistan,
women were required to wear a full burqa – usually blue in colour
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burqa,
accessed August 19, 2006).
- Jilbab – In contemporary usage this refers
to a long, flowing, baggy over-garment worn by some Muslim
women who believe it fulfills the Islamic
demands for modesty. The modern jilbab covers the entire body, except
for hands, feet, face, and head. The head is then covered by a scarf
or hijab. While some Islamic scholars argue this garment is identical
to the one referenced in the Qur’an in the 7th century, others
believe it is the product of an Islamic revival embracing fundamentalism
that originated in Egypt in the 1970s (Encyclopedia of Islam cited at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jilb%C4%81b#Controversy,
accessed August 19, 2006).
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