Learning to understand the veil
On her first day of classes, Sandra Jaen, a third-year English student at Thompson Rivers University, saw a fully covered woman on campus. The Muslim woman was wearing a long black dress that exposed only her eyes. It was the first time Jaen had encountered someone dressed this way and it left her feeling distressed.
What Jaen saw was an Abaya, a traditional outer garment from the Middle East, usually worn over street clothes in order to hide the curves of a woman’s body. Just like Jaen, many North Americans first encounter with Muslim women while at university.
“I was scared, I thought she could barely breathe underneath the veil,” Jaen said. “I personally feel uncomfortable when I see a fully covered woman because men make them to wear it.”
There is confusion about why Muslim women decide to cover their hair and sometimes their face. While for them it’s a sign of religious belief, in some Westerner’s eyes it’s a sign of oppression.
The Abaya is not the only garment worn by women on campus; most Muslims wear a rectangular piece of scarf placed over the head and fastened under the chin called a Hijab, which can come in many different colours and patterns.
Mauritius native Hayfaa Bibi Zafiirah Golapkhan, a 26-year-old chemistry student, has worn a Hijab since the age of 16. It was her decision. According to her experience, wearing the veil in Canada has not been an issue for her. However, she was asked to remove it while in high school in Mauritius.
“I feel shy when I am not wearing it, as if I was naked,” said Golapkhan.
Back home, her family advised her not to wear the veil to avoid problems.
“Even my friends asked me why I decided to wear the Hijab,” said Golapkhan.
Now she runs the Muslim Female Club at TRU to help welcome Muslims from on and off campus.
Like most female Saudi students, Dima Alsadoon moved to TRU to join her husband and complete her university education. Alsadoon said she feels comfortable in Kamloops due to the cultural freedom. Unlike in Canada, in Saudi Arabia religion and politics are mixed. It’s an Islamic country ruled by Shariah or the sacred law.
“Covering the whole body with the black Abaya is a cultural thing, not religious,” said Alsadoon.
“I have never had any problem with my religion in TRU or Kamloops,” says Alsadoon. Like her, other Muslim women seem to feel comfortable in campus environment. All of them want to stay longer in Canada.
Covering the head and body is required of all Muslim women at ceremonies. Since she’s in Canada, however, Alsadoon has adapted her style. Now she wears colourful clothes and veils.
“Islam doesn’t ask you for specific colour,” she said.
However, Alsadoon complains about some Westerner’s views of Saudi women.
“People tend to think that we don’t get out or get educated in our home country. The only difference with Canada is that here universities are co-ed.”
Studying at the same facilities as males is one of the major issues Saudi women have to deal with once they leave Saudi Arabia. Many feel shy in front of men.
According to Alsadoon, wearing the veil is the most controversial aspect of being a Muslim woman in Canada.
“It’s an own decision, we don’t have to wear it if we don’t want to,” she said.
Still, Islamic law suggests dressing modestly. Iran native Sogol Hazin was brought up in an Islamic country until she moved to Canada as a child. Unlike Saudi Arabia, Iran was one of the most western influenced countries in the Middle East during the Shah’s regime and Hazin isn't a fan of veils.
“I encourage these women to truly think about the underlying issues that bring an environment that makes them feel scared or less confident [when they are not wearing the veil],” said Hazin.
The social work student said she respects Muslim women’s religious desires to cover their heads but wonders how they are free to choose.
“We all have a responsibility to create an environment in which Islamic women can exercise the right to wear the veil if they desire, out of pride and not out of fear and insecurity,” said Hazin.
Unlike Hazin, Olivia Skagos, representative for the TRUSU Women’s collective at Thompson Rivers University, said Muslim women should wear their traditional attire if that is what they want to do.
“In my opinion, feminism is about personal choices. When I see a woman wearing a burqa on campus, I personally feel completely indifferent. I have the same reaction when I see a woman wearing a pair of boots,” said Skagos.
Paul Lagace, the Executive Director of Kamloops Immigrant Services, said he has never experienced any kind of incident involving the Muslim community in Kamloops.
“The majority of people we talk to accept the differences and are very welcoming,” he said.
While the Canadian government has tried to avoid making any statements about Muslim dress codes, in Quebec traditional outfits that cover women’s faces are banned in public places. Since last year, Muslim women need to show their faces in plain view if they want to interact with any Quebecois government service like health boards.
Lagace attributes the success of cultural integration to the size of Kamloops.
The Muslim population at TRU is expected to increase in the following years according to Sultan Almajil, the International Advisor for Saudi Arabia, and Middle Eastern students at TRU World. The growing number of students coming from Islamic countries will likely make veils on campus more visible.
“They key word is respect other people’s beliefs,” says Lagace. “Not only accept but learn to live with them.”