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Empowerment
Despite the stereotypes that come with wearing the hijab such as: living a life dependent of men accompanied by a life of isolation, many women are now choosing to wear the hijab as a source of empowerment rather than oppression. The reason why women wear the hijab has shifted from embodying the Quran to creating a life of protection, identity, and freedom.

Retaining modesty among strangers is essential to following the Islamic faith. However, the hijab is a tangible object which much like it’s literal meaning, “curtain”, restricts anyone outside of their family from looking at the features that constitute them as a woman. Woman whom find discomfort in men looking at their attributes don’t face such predicament when wearing the hijab. Additionally, power is given to the woman, as, she controls men’s reactions towards her, when minimizing the view of her features because men are believed to have an inability to control sexual urges.

Muslim woman are usually recognized as a Muslim woman when wearing the hijab then when not. Wearing the hijab provides the recognition a proud Muslim woman yearns for alongside the connotations that come with it. The simple act of wearing it, demands a specific form of treatment, one where modest interactions between men and women are promoted, stopping boundaries from being crossed. Since there are boundaries enforced whilst wearing the hijab, men and people in general are forced to see beyond the physical appearance. A woman’s personality and knowledge is the only means available for another individual to judge her when wearing the hijab, molding her identity; whom she is to others. The hijab also serves as a reminder of what kind of person she wants to be and helps her refrain from partaking in activities that may be deemed immodest such as partying, indulging in alcoholic beverages, flirting with strangers, and etc.

With the hijab also comes a sense of freedom. Restrictions placed on women not wearing the hijab are not enforced or are not as enforced by their families because trust is instilled based on the modesty factor the hijab represents. Often women are forbidden to casually hangout with friends but when wearing the hijab, women are exhibiting their will to follow what the hijab stands for, therefore, they experience leeway and are allowed to socialize with friends and progress in school life and work places.