Your clothes reflect… your culture! Middle Eastern Dress Your clothes reflect… your culture! Influences: sense of style, interests, activities/sports, age, weather, body shape, peers, level of comfort, what you are planning on doing, money, family, ethnicity, religion, occasion (wedding, work, skiing) American examples: Amish, Mennonite, Orthodox Jews, Religious leaders, conservative Christians, Nuns, Muslims, “city kids”?

Is it only Islam?

“And I want women to be modest in their appearance “And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothing.” 1 Timothy 2:9 “But every woman praying or prophesying with her head unveiled dishonors her head. For it is one and the same thing as if she were shaved. For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered. For a man indeed ought not to have his head covered, because he is the image and glory of God, but the woman is the glory of the man.” 1 Corinthians 11: 5-7 “Judge for yourselves. Is it appropriate that a woman pray to God unveiled? Doesn't even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her, for her hair is given to her for a covering.” 1 Corinthians 11: 13-15

Characteristics of Hijab Conservative and loose fitting! Covered up- wrists to ankles; head Starts at puberty Only when in public or around non-related men “Women are hidden treasures, neither to be displayed nor advertised.” Hijab Arabic term for “cover”; Word is used to describe the general practice of dressing modestly as well as used to describe the clothing worn by Muslim women

Billboard from Indonesia depicting proper attire

Hijabi Barbie

Factors that Influence Dress Country Saudi Arabia and Iran v. Jordan, Turkey, Iraq, US Age Urban v. Rural Family upbringing (conservative) Choice- Hijab is a cultural and personal choice Iranian Women Women in Lebanon

Headscarf Commonly referred to as hijab Also called a ghata, shayla, dupatta, or chunari Vary in length and style around the world Most popular and used item in Muslim dress

Body Coverings Saudi women wear an abaya Traditional Palestinian Thob The cloak worn by Iranian women is known as a chador

Niqab= Veil Only the most traditional and conservative women wear a veil Saudi Arabia: Women are required to wear a hijab and an abaya (loose robe); In some cases a niqab is required also

Burqa (Burka)= body covering Women were required to wear a burqa by the former Taliban government in Afghanistan; it is still commonly seen in conservative regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan

Adaptations for Athletics Women must keep their heads and bodies covered New companies are creating full body athletic wear for women Separate swimming areas allow women to swim freely Sarah Attar became Saudi Arabia's first female track Olympian (2012 was the first year Saudi Arabia allowed female athletes) Iranian women’s Olympic soccer team

Maldives National Volleyball Team

Turkey Yemen Kurds Jordan

An interview with Marwa Atik, co-founder and lead designer of Vela scarves. Your scarves are all about self-expression, but often people associate wearing the hijab with the stifling of female expression. How do you respond? MA: It's such a big misconception that any woman who wears a hijab is oppressed. I think it comes from the media. The truth is, I don't feel oppressed. I don't identify myself as someone that's being attacked. At the end of the day, I'm an American who is also Muslim. A lot of times the people who think we're oppressed or wearing a hijab by force often haven't met a hijabi or talked to any of us. Some of us actually like it when people approach us and ask questions as to why we wear it. So how do you answer that question: Why do you wear it? MA: I dress modestly so people and society can see me for my personality, how I talk, and for who I really am, rather than how I look in a provocative sense. The beauty of the hijab is it doesn't restrict you from wearing whatever you want to go with it. You find your own modesty and you dress according to that—as long as you have the right intentions that's all that really matters.

Men- Modestly Rules Covered from navel to knees dishdasha Salwar kameez Men- Modestly Rules Covered from navel to knees Pants or robe is customary No tight, sheer or revealing clothing No silk clothing or gold jewelry

Thobe (Thawb) Ankle-length robe Most popular among the Arab culture Other names: dishdasha, kandura, kanzu Differing styles of collars and cuffs Can be in other colors such as tan, blue and black but white is most common

Male headscarves Called keffiyeh/kaffiyeh, ghutra or shumagg Held in place by headropes called agal (igal) Red/White: Arab Black/White: Palestinian

Abu Dubai: Men’s clothing store Taqiyah: Islamic cap

Iranian dulband = Muslim cleric head covering

Yarmulke or Kippah= Jewish head covering

Orthodox Jews