Women, the Hijab and Twitter

1. Women, the Hijab and Twitter Claire Dunderman CRS 400

2. Who wears the hijab? • Many different cultures • Largely seen as a Muslim practice • Mainly Muslim women, although men can wear the hijab

3. Why? • Personal differences • In large: • Modesty • Centerness • Respect for women • Identity as a Muslim woman

4. Why Twitter? • Anyone can interact • Personalized

5. Bennett’s Scale Denial Defence Minimisation Acceptance Adaptation Integration Ethnocentric Ethnorelative

6. Research Plan • Data • Qualitative • Descriptive • Observe • Interview

7. Observation

8. Betty Martins

9. StunningHijab.com

10. Ayesha Nusrat

11. Melanie Gardiner

12. Allison Pearson

13. Interviews

14. Kiren’s Questions • Which forms of social media do you use? Which forms of social media have you displayed your profile picture with you wearing your hijab in it? • Has anyone ever commented on your hijab on these social media platforms? What have they said? • Do many of your friends show pictures of their hijab on social media? How do you feel like they represent themselves? • Do you ever follow anyone on twitter or other forms of social media who either wears the hijab or actively talks about the hijab? • How do you think people on social media – on a whole – react to those who wear the hijab? If there were anything you would want to change, what would it be?

15. Salma’s Questions • Which forms of social media do you use? • Do many of your friends show pictures of their hijab on social media? How do you feel like they represent themselves? • Do you follow anyone on twitter or other forms of social media who either wear the hijab or actively talk about the hijab? • How do you think people on social media – on a whole – react to those who wear the hijab? If there were anything you would want to change, what would it be?

16. Kiren Response • Some Muslims have commented saying that as a Muslim female I shouldn't be taking pictures of myself in a hijab and posting them on the internet because males can look through my pictures. Others have said that they are proud of me wearing one so openly and displaying my profile picture in the way I have and do. Some have commented saying that I'm a good role model for Muslim women because it proves how proud I am to be a representative of my religion and helps to show Muslim women are not oppressed as many of the stereotypes surrounding Muslim women suggest. • “I think the main reason as to why people act and react this way is mainly due to the fact that they are scared of the unknown and the hijab is not familiar to them and they are not educated enough around the clothing for them to be aware of why a woman would want to wear one.”

17. Salma Response • “Despite the fact that some people hate the hijab and oppress females for wearing it, they still have the courage and confidence to wear it daily and even post pictures of what they are proud off and what is now a part of their identity.” • Those who know a little bit about religions will know that even Virgin Mary wore the veil, nuns wear the veil and cover their hair. That is what the hijab is. Covering the hair. With the hijab- there is nothing I would want to change. With knowledge- there is a lot I want to change. I want people to understand what the hijab is and why it is worn. I want them to understand that it is not oppressing anyone and that some people decide when they want to wear it. I want to change peoples attitudes towards the hijab.

18. Analysis • Bennett scale represented on Twitter • Ethnocentric • StunningHijab.com • Allison Pearson • Kiren • Salma • Ethnorelative • Betty Martins • Ayesha Nusrat • Melanie Gardiner • Lots of different ways it is represented and received