The Radiant “Towelhead”
By Naveen
It’s true–I shower with my hijab on. I sleep with it on, too. I do not have ears, and I do not have hair. Some even call me “towelhead.”
This ignorant accusation latched onto my thoughts as I stared at her, the reflection of me that included the unseeable: the hijab. A veil that covered her head, hair, and chest. “Outcast.” That puny voice rang into her ears, but she shook her head, refusing to let that cynical assertion sink into her thoughts. “Perceptible.” I felt honored because her appearance was distinct. She was one of the few visual representations of her ethnicity that is continually condemned with sinister stereotypes and absurd generalizations. That girl was me, and every Muslim woman in existence.
I started wearing the hijab when I was in eighth grade. I was excited at the time. However, I was also unaware of the hatred that exists in the world and the cruelty that lives within many people. I remember wrapping the veil around my face, the delicate Pakistani scarf was decorated with colorful polka dots tangled with a butterfly pin. That day, as I was changing in the gym room, I set down my hijab. When I returned, I found it lying in the trash and found something even more unsettling - something I could never shield my memory from. Girls in the back corner of the room stared at my stunned facial expression, snickering. At the time, I was writhing in shame, but that shame has made me resilient, because I did not stop wearing my hijab. Wearing it is essential in staying true to myself, despite the apprehension I once felt. They thought they threw away my dignity, but my faith only grew stronger, as that resilience I gained eventually molded into determination. I became determined to prove that I’m proud of my beliefs, and confident enough to realize that I am beautiful in the eyes of God.
The hijab is often viewed as a symbol of oppression, but I view it as a symbol of freedom. I venture to educate the world by staying true to my beliefs and omitting degrading stereotypes. To achieve this, I plan to portray myself as a pure character that others perceive as a role model. As I grow up, I witness the world around me growing up as well - I experience the greatest treasure of all, respect. It’s genuinely moving to say that existing perceptions are beginning to change, and ignorance may start to deteriorate as respect and acceptance gradually grows. There’s already progress. For the first time in our nation’s history, two Muslim women were elected to Congress in 2016 and they were reelected, and many more Muslim women joined office in 2020. By continuing to study and work toward shaping a future for myself, I’m even more motivated to prove that Muslim women are capable of following their beliefs while also chasing their dreams.
My self confidence and pride in my beliefs will persist as I transition from a Muslim girl into a Muslim woman. With the scars and calamity of the negative perceptions of others serve as obstacles, the strength in my faith and pride in my ethnicity has never swayed. Modesty creates a surge of power that lives in my heart and flows through my veins. I wear the hijab to preserve my dignity, my modesty, and my integrity. I am determined to not only prove to myself that I am a strong Muslim woman whose belief will never shatter, but to illustrate to others that Muslim women are to be respected as well. We are not weak or helpless like the media portrays us. So, to those that call me “towelhead,” I am honored.
