Muslims and Their Struggle for Acceptance - Essay Example

Since the attacks of 9/11, Muslims in America have been targeted for criticism and their presence in the country has been disapproved by certain communities. Although the situation has considerably improved in the past few years, objection to the religious attire worn by most American Muslims, especially Muslim women, is still soaring. Many Americans have still not grown accustomed to traditional Muslim clothing such as hijab, dupattas, and shalwar kameez, and they still consider it somewhat threatening.

            Just like all other religious communities in America, Muslims also have a right to carry out their religious activities and wear their traditional dresses at public sites and other events. Nevertheless, many Americans feel alarmed whenever they come across a Muslim man or woman in his or her customary dress. Thus, measures are being taken by the Muslims of America and some political rights activists. The root of this problem has been described as the widespread terrorist attacks by Muslim extremists, which has led most Americans to believe that every man in a shalwar kameez should be a terrorist. In order to tackle this problem, senators have raised their voices to defend the civil rights of Muslim Americans, and have warned that the Muslim community should not be falsely judged, by the acts of a few radical ones. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) has declared that Muslims living in America should not be discriminated against and should be allowed to practice their right, which has been authorized by the constitution to other Americans.

            Hijab has been a heated topic in many parts of the world, with countries like France and Turkey attempting to ban it. In America, Muslim women outnumber Muslim men, four to one, as is reported by Samuel Cole in his article ‘Donning the Hijab’. He further adds that Muslim women in America wear hijabs to show their religious freedom, not to intimidate their fellow Americans. But this fact has not been accepted by America, as a whole, as they think that how can a law which restricts women’s dressing, be liberating? In order to correct this, many petitions have been launched, which address the people to accept hijab as a dress code for Muslim women. Furthermore, according to the article ‘Hijab in America’, encouraging legal actions are taking place in the United States. In 2004, a schoolgirl was not allowed to wear a hijab. When the matter was taken to court, the United States Justice Department supported the girl in her argument. Also, tips against discrimination against the Hijab, have been issued by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which advises Muslim women what to do when they are criticized for wearing hijabs in public or any workplace. It also assures Muslim women that they are allowed to wear Hijab at their workplace under the 1964 Civil Rights Act. With a robust learning program, the Muslim community in America could convince their fellow Americans that hijab is just part of a Muslim woman, through which she can appear distinct from others and moreover it is something that represents religious freedom in America in contrast to other parts of the world, like France, where the government is adamant to ban Hijab regardless the continuous appeals by the Muslim population.

            It is a fact that Muslim women are discriminated against more for wearing the customary dress than Muslim men, in America. Hijab has been an ongoing controversial topic in America, with most Americans unable to understand the true reason behind the wearing of the veil. This situation was unpleasant before the 9/11 attacks, and after that, it just became worse. After the attacks, President Bush repeatedly cautioned the American population to be friendly towards the Muslim population and not to undermine their values. This was a positive approach towards the acceptance of the religious garb worn by American Muslims by the government. Even though Muslim women were pushed hard not to wear Hijab to workplaces by their employers, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission encouraged Muslim women to continue wearing their religious dress. It also declared that no one was required to let go of their religious beliefs, just to keep their jobs. So the move by the American Government has been positive on several occasions, and it is now the turn of America’s mass population to support the Muslim culture.