Headcovering Should Be a Choice

I've been reorganizing the blog and checking on links, while keeping up with the news about headcoverings and headscarves (see the links to news in the right column). I came across this explanation and summary of headcovering in The Catholic Knight. This is what I think:

photo from Catholic Knight

The authentic Catholic reason for wearing the chapel veil is the Biblical reason. It's just something that all Christian women (regardless of denomination) are supposed to do, not because they have to, but because they're supposed to want to. The Catholic Church has decided to no longer enforce this Biblical custom through Canon Law, and in doing so, the Church is saying it does not want to be our nanny. The chapel veil is a custom for women to do voluntarily, because they want to, not because they are being forced to. The idea is that women are to read what the Scriptures have to say, and be convicted according to what is contained therein. In order for a chapel veil to be an authentic sign of humility and holiness, it must be voluntary. Indeed, Christian women are supposed to wear one, but it is never to be forced.

What do you think? Does this reasoning apply to all women who wish to cover, regardless of denomination or religion?

Facebook Headcovering Pages

Karen Orr has contacted me before and just again, to let us know of her small but apparently active home business for modest dresses and headcoverings. You can find her at the Modest dresses & HeadCovering Shop at Facebook. I think that if you are interested in her goods, you should send her a private message, since she doesn't have an outside website shown here.

Even on social sites like Facebook, keep your eyes open, and search where you can.

Other head covering websites with pages on Facebook include:

• Inspirational HeadCoverings - "creates fashion forward scarves for women who have lost their hair due to medical treatments. Please visit our website at www.InspirationalHeadCoverings.com."
• Headcoverings by Devorah - where modesty doesn't have to mean frumpy! You can find Devorah's website at  Headcoverings by Devorah.
• Heavenly Headcoverings - with a personal Etsy website also -  http://www.etsy.com/shop/lindaward1?ref=si_shop
• Headcovers.com - that wonderful website that provides such stylish headcovers for those who have had to deal with hair loss, also at Headcovers.com. 
• And there are about a billion (yes I am exaggerating) listings that come up when I type "hijab store" into the Facebook search feature.

Have fun exploring the internet through whatever source you are able to use. But, as always, be aware of stumbling across creepy sites.

Sale: Pre-Tied Bandanas, Snoods, Hats, Berets, Headbands, Hair Accessories

And now for a commercial . . . ;)

Pre-Tied Bandanas, Snoods, Hats, Berets, Headbands, Hair Accessories Handbags, Costume Jewelry - MyHeadcoverings.com

Please also read this great article about this website and its relation to the explosion of variety in head and hair covering styles:  The Yeshiva World

The Guardian lifts the veil on London's stylish hijabs - photos

Lifting the veil on London's stylish hijab wearers | Life and style | The Guardian

"Iranian-born photographer Sara Shamsavari's colourful portraits celebrate the individuality and creativity of the capital's young Muslim women"

Colourful article with link to an online gallery of photos taken by the photographer. Part of International Women's Day: Women of the World Festival, 6—10 March 2013.  Photos here by Sara Shamsavari are from the online gallery in the Guardian.

"The project, she admits, was inspired by her own experience growing up in London in the 80s and 90s. Despite her blue eyes and fair skin, Shamsavari's Iranian background meant she became accustomed to name calling. Yet this prejudice only fed her desire to focus on what she calls "uncelebrated communities" in her work. "With all depictions of ethnic minorities there is too much negativity and too many cliches and stereotypes. I wanted to do something that was the opposite." "

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Side note to Christian, Jewish and other head covering wearers: are there any galleries like this for the rest of us? 

"highest level of thought and civilization"

Tawakkul Karman of Yemen, Nobel Laureate

I have seen this quote by Nobel Prize winner, Tawakkul Karman, of Yemen, many times on the internet, but I have not been able to place a definite time or interview with it. If you have the link to a transcript of the interview, I would like to post it here as well; please comment. The quote referring to modesty in clothing as opposed to early man who wore almost no clothing:

"When asked about her hijab by journalists and how it is not proportionate with her level of intellect and education, she replied, “Man in the early times was almost naked, and as his intellect evolved he started wearing clothes. What I am today and what I’m wearing represents the highest level of thought and civilization that man has achieved, and is not regressive. It’s the removal of clothes again that is regressive back to ancient TIMES.”"

Western Europe vs. Religious Freedom

Click to read:

"Commentary: Western Europe vs. Religious Freedom | The National Interest"

 by: Mary Ann Glendon serves as vice chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). Azizah al-Hibri serves as a USCIRF Commissioner.

"If the lamp of liberty is to remain lit, Western Europeans must accept that the age of conformity to an official monoculture—secular or religious—is at an end. In the coming year, their countries should embrace their religiously diverse future and accord religious freedom to all. "

What do you think?

"FROhio Fashion Week Begins with Workshop"

FROhio Fashion Week Begins with Workshop - Toledo Natural Beauty | Examiner.com

True, this event is over, but the thoughts continue: head coverings can be beautiful and stylish.

 "Naturals in the City of Toledo gathered Monday night at the Mott Branch Library in Toledo, Ohio to learn creative ways to use fabric as decorative and practical head coverings."

Photo accompanying article by

Megan Yasu Davis, Toledo Natural Beauty Examiner

 "Head Wraps are not just worn by stars or people who want to "connect with African Roots". They can be worn to spice up a great pair of jeans and a tee, with a formal gown or to simply cover a "bad hair day".

You can select any time of fabric like leftover fabric from a sewing project, old t-shirts, part of a skirt, even an old table cloth or scarf. You can layer the fabric for color contrasting or use floral clips, rhinestone pins or barrettes to accent your wrap. Wraps can be worn high up, with some hair exposed in the top or for bangs and you can rock a head wrap that is more turban style and close the the head.

Whatever way you choose to wear head wraps, they are a fashion trend, a statement, and a practical way to decorate and protect your hair during the Winter months!"

Study on U.S. Muslim Women and the Veil Wins Grawemeyer Religion Award

"Harvard University divinity professor and feminist scholar Dr. Leila Ahmed is the winner of the 2013 Grawemeyer Award in Religion. Her 2011 book, "A Quiet Revolution: The Veil's Resurgence from the Middle East to America" explains why a growing number of Muslim women in the United States are wearing traditional veils and head coverings." 

http://www.amazon.com/Quiet-Revolution-Resurgence-Middle-America/dp/0300181434

No ban on Uygur dress - China, and other stories

Uygur Muslim women in traditional dress in Kashgar. Photo: AFP

"There is no ban on Uygur dress, police deputy says at congress | South China Morning Post"

Just "discouragement", they say. Interesting how things are looked at in different places around the world,  comparing one government and tradition with another.

But Kurex Kanjir, a Uygur who is also a member of the Xinjiang delegation to the Communist Party's 18th national congress, said there was "absolutely no ban" on Uygurs wearing traditional Islamic dress.

. . .

 "We have never said people cannot wear traditional ethnic dress," Kurex Kanjir said on the sidelines of the congress on Sunday. "But we are now in a civilised society and we hope to use modern culture to guide a somehow backward culture. It is something not to be forced, but something to be achieved through guidance."

The differences in the region have led to physical violence. I always find that result amazing. This is how it is in another part of the world.

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EgyptAir to let hostesses wear Islamic headscarves

Reuters

CAIRO (Reuters) - EgyptAir is allowing its stewardesses to wear Islamic headscarves if they wish on flights to Arab states and will expand the practice to the rest of the network, an official said on Sunday...

Egyptian teacher gets suspended sentence for punishing girls not wearing ...

Fox News

LUXOR, Egypt – A teacher in southern Egypt was convicted of child abuse Tuesday and given a six-month suspended sentence, after she cut the hair of two schoolgirls for not wearing the traditional Muslim headscarf.

A girl wearing hijab at a school in the republic of Daghestan.

Head Scarves To Be Banned In Some Russian Schools

RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty

Last month, several families complained that their daughters, who wear Islamic head scarves, called hijabs, were not allowed to enter secondary schools. The new dress code prohibits the wearing of any religious clothing or clothes with religious symbols.

UP college makes headscarves must

Times of India

KANPUR: The management of a government-aided Muslim girls inter college here has made it mandatory for girl students to wear headscarf and banned use of mobile phones in the college.