The Muslim Students Association at the University of Windsor is inviting the campus community to learn about the hijab, ask questions about headscarves and even try one on.
Dubbed Hijab Awareness Day, the event takes place Nov. 17 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in CAW Student Centre.
“We want to raise awareness of the hijab, while simultaneously diminishing stereotypes and misconceptions about it,” said Hanan Khaled, the MSA’s events director.
As the debate over religious iconography and clothing swirls in Quebec, Khaled said she’s heard students on campus refer to the hijab as everything from a “fashion statement” to a “symbol of oppression and misogyny.”
“It’s not a symbol of oppression,” she said. “It’s a symbol of a person’s religion. It’s a symbol of Islam and of a girl’s modesty.”
Khaled also pointed out that Muslim men are also required to dress modestly, and be covered from the navel to the knee.
For more information, visit the Muslim Student Association’s website.