Family Influence on Covering
We found that there was no one trend on family influence on covering, but rather it was a spectrum from family having no influence to being very important to the decision. Our interviews found that some women were empowered and/or strongly influenced by the Muslim women in their family in their decision of whether or not to cover. However, other women strayed from their families’ interpretations of Islam and chose alternatively whether to cover or not. Additionally, one of our interviewees converted to Islam in adulthood, so her family had no influence on her choice to wear the Hijab.
Yasmine
Yasmine
- "I would say probably the biggest [influence not to cover] is my mom because she didn’t start wearing a Hijab until maybe five years ago, and then she’s always said it is going to be my choice. Like she wants me to want to wear it rather than have her force me to wear things."
- "I think my mom [is my biggest influence to cover], probably, because she fully covers so she wears the burka"
- "Through my family’s influence and through my own exploration of Islam as I got older, I would say I’m a fairly practicing Muslim. I pray 5 times a day, fast during Ramadan, try to be generous and charitable, and do my best to abide by other guidelines Islam sets for behavior.""My mom had been considering starting to wear hijab for a few years. She waited because she just wanted to be sure about the decision. She didn't want to start wearing it and then change her mind - I think both because it would be confusing for her and also for what others might say. I actually don't think her wearing hijab makes me any more or less likely to change my mind."
- "Growing up I went to Sunday School and my parents gave me an Islamic upbringing but, really during my time in high school and middle school I started going to Islamic conventions on my own with my cousins and uncles to learn more about Islam and what it means to me. I think ever since high school it’s a conscious decision I’ve made to be a Muslim, to wear hijab, to be a practicing Muslim. It’s not something I follow because it’s been a tradition in my family but it’s something that I follow because I truly believe in the teachings and how it tells us to be as a person and how to treat others."
- "I think it was just my family life. I had two older brothers and then I had my mother to look at. My mother didn’t cover. I also grew up very boyish so I never really saw a difference between me and my brothers and it was very much encouraged for me to be my own person and I had no limits and boundaries on who I had to be. And so my parents never pressured me to be more girly or wear hijab or be more religious and so I would wear basketball shorts playing with my brothers but then as, I got older, I decided I’d dress more modestly so I wouldn’t wear shorts but I would wear capri pants."
- "My mom's family is Catholic, they don't really understand Islam that much but my mom explained as best she could. My dad's mom is very religious, but she doesn't impose her beliefs on anyone. Everybody else on that side is pretty relaxed too, I'd say my dad is the most strict out of his siblings. Growing up in a primarily Muslim community, wearing hijab was the normal, although a lot of my friends chose not to wear it. I think it was more familial, because my mom wears it."
- "I grew up in an averagely religious family, we were not really religious, just as the average Egyptians would be. They were not secular totally, and not really religious. Then I got exposed in medical school to a clear idea about Islam and a clear understanding, a more comprehensive understanding of Islam through Islamic groups and through my friends and through reading. So I consider myself getting into practicing for real and practicing with conviction when I went to medical school."
- "It was my decision completely. My parents, I remember especially my mom, would say "Oh you're too young, why are you doing this now? How about you take it gradually," but I insisted at that time. My father was okay either way, he wasn't pushing in any direction, and I remember having fights, actually, at home, because I wanted to follow the dress code strictly. My mom was thinking "Oh you are too young, why are you doing this?" It took me a few battles at home to do what I think was right."
- "I was born into a Muslim family who has been practicing Islam for generations. Growing up I went to Sunday School and my parents gave me an Islamic upbringing but, really during my time in high school and middle school I started going to Islamic conventions on my own with my cousins and uncles to learn more about Islam and what it means to me. I think ever since high school it’s a conscious decision I’ve made to be a Muslim, to wear hijab, to be a practicing Muslim. It’s not something I follow because it’s been a tradition in my family but it’s something that I follow because I truly believe in the teachings and how it tells us to be as a person and how to treat others. Those are things that I truly believe in and that’s why I choose to be a Muslim everyday."
- "My whole family isn’t practicing and everyone in the family has different levels. Like my mom would call herself practicing. She is good in somethings and not in others. She doesn’t wear a hijab for example. One of my sisters doesn’t even consider herself Muslim. It is very much across a wide spectrum. "