Clogged Blog: Writers Can’t See Past the Veil

Last updated on: December 8, 2011 at 11:35 pm by Muslimah Media Watch

Clogged Blog: Writers Can’t See Past the Veil 2011-12-08T23:35:08-04:00 Muslimah Media Watch

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

MMW thanks Forsoothsayer for the tip!

The New York Times’ has a section for more in-depth analysis of news stories, entitled “The Lede” and authored by Mike Nizza. On February 19, 2008, writer Nadim Audi talked to some Egyptian university students about their ideas and their reaction to the Times’ earlier piece about frustrated Egyptian youth who supposedly nuzzle in deep into Islam’s bosom because they can’t get married and nuzzle into a real bosom. Here’s an interesting deconstruction of that article.

We are introduced to three Egyptian men and two Egyptian women. They are young, well-educated, and religious. But Audi can’t just leave it at that. He defines the two Egyptian women by two things: their college majors and what they’re wearing. Or, rather, what they’re not wearing: he describes them as women who “[do] not wear a veil, or hijab.” As if they’re the same thing. For readers unfamiliar with these terms, conflating “veiling” and “hejab” is problematic because “veiling” often refers to covering one’s face, while “hejab” usually only refers to covering one’s hair when used as a clothing reference.

When describing the men, only one out of three men is characterized by what he’s wearing.

Audi then asks the students about their reactions to the Times article and about the Egyptian government. Then he poses a question directly to the female student Roba. What’s it about? Hejab, of course!

This Audi chap just can’t seem to get past this hejab thing. It’s the only question he asks one of the women (one can only hope the other woman, Sara, declined to comment. Perhaps this is why her voice was not included in the article at all. At all).

Q: Roba, can I ask you a question? You’re not veiled. Are you secular or religious? [not a particularly stupid question]

Roba: I like to think of myself as a very religious person.

Q: Then why aren’t you wearing a hijab? [Stupid, stupid, stupid. And arrogant, arrogant, arrogant. It would be different if he asked her opinion on hejab, or if he asked if there was a particular reason she didn’t wear one, but the way his question is posed, it makes him sound like a member of the Morality Police. “Why aren’t you wearing a hejab? Don’t you know that’s how a proper Muslim woman behaves? You’re under arrest for indecency!”]

Roba: Because, it doesn’t prove anything – it doesn’t say if I’m religious or not. I think being religious is something that happens in your heart – it has nothing to do with what your wear.

Roba’s answer is pretty good. But I wish she would have told him where to stick the hejab. She does get some defiant last words, however:

Roba: In the end of the day, I am Egyptian. And I’m a Muslim. Even though I’ve received my education in a English speaking school, and I’m an A.U.C. graduate, but this is not going to take me away from my roots. Which are: I’m an Egyptian, Muslim, a woman. I’m proud of it, and I hate what the West is trying to do to us. You are making a big deal out of these issues, and I can’t understand why. (my emphasis)

Sing it, lady!

Editor’s Note: In the first edition of this story, we incorrectly attributed this article to Mike Nizza, who hosts The Lede. MMW apologizes for the error.

Web

Previous Post

February 22, 2008

Friday Links -- February 22, 2008

Next Post

February 26, 2008 AKI Gets Tired of the Same Old Terrorist Stock Footage

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Advertisements Art/Theater Books/Magazines Cinema Comics/Cartoons Culture/Society Events Fashion Film Friday Links Merchandise/Commodities MMW Announcements MMW Highlights Music/Radio News Photography Politics Profile Ramadan 2012 Ramadan 2013 Ramadan 2014 Ramadan 2015 Roundtable Satire Social Media Sports Technology/Science Television Uncategorized Video Web

Select a Month November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does "Levi" (as in the tribe and the priesthood) mean?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Blessed Firstborn Attached/Joined Strong