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I have learned that if I do not take the initiative to teach people more about who I am in an honest and open fashion, then I am doing a disservice to not only myself, but to the people around me.
NC State senior Sara Yasin
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By Dave Pond, Web Communication
As the old saying goes, don't judge a man 'til you walk a mile in his shoes. Neither should one judge a Muslim woman 'til you walk a mile in her hijab – the modest, traditional covering worn by many as a symbol of Islamic consciousness.
To that end, Behind the Veil – an eye-opening social experiment co-sponsored by the NC State Women's Center and the Muslim Students Association – recently afforded non-Muslim women the opportunity to wear the covering and see what daily life is like for Sara Yasin and other Muslims on North Carolina State University's campus.
"Being a part of Behind the Veil and other programs helps encourage free discussion about controversial topics," said Yasin, a senior Textile and Apparel Management major who created the program in 2007 with the help of the NC State Women's Center. "As a Muslim woman, I'm honored that participants have chosen to step outside of their comfort zones for one day to experience what it is like behind the veil.
"As a Muslim woman, this event is significant because I think that it is part of my duty as someone who is an 'outsider,'" Yasin said. "I have learned that if I do not take the initiative to teach people more about who I am in an honest and open fashion, then I am doing a disservice to not only myself, but to the people around me."
The act of covering everything except one's face, hands, and feet is also known as "Hijab," and pertains to more than physical appearance - it encompasses what Muslim women term as "practicing modesty."
During their experience, Behind the Veil participants were encouraged to exhibit modesty in other ways encouraged in the Muslim faith, such as abstaining from pork, alcohol and public displays of affection, as well as covering all hair and skin while in the presence of men who are not closely related to each participant.
Yasin told Behind the Veil participants that she feels it's important for each woman to define modestly for herself. For example, she chooses to wear pants, although some scholars feel that Muslim women should not, and describes herself as being very outspoken. Some Muslim women may think that her outspokenness is inappropriate, she says, but Yasin feels she can be outspoken while remaining modest.
"Putting the veil on is the first step," she said. "Your behavior is the second."
Approximately 35 women took part in this year's event on Feb. 17, which concluded with a discussion featuring Duke University professor Miriam Cooke and a panel of Muslim women who wear, or choose not to wear, the veil.
"It is important for me to show that each experience as a Muslim is unique, and every person has their own picture of faith," said Yasin, who began wearing a veil when she was 15. "Through the program, we try to give an honest image of the veil through multiple experiences, and this year, a more academic component.
"With current events, improving understanding helps build bridges," she said, "and we fashion the program to encourage challenging questions and ideas rather than doing something which promotes the Muslim faith."
