Reflection On The Issue Of Niqab - Assignment

Running head: REFLECTION ON THE ISSUE OF NIQAB
Reflection On The Issue Of Niqab
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REFLECTION ON THE ISSUE OF NIQAB
Introduction
In October 2017 the Quebec made worldwide headlines as the state banned the
face-covering through their bill 62 act. The ban has prevented the person from covering
their face through a veil, and those who will do so will not be provided with public
service (De Wals et al. 2017). The issue of the hijab is predominant in society, and while
a certain section of the society supports this in the name of the religion and tradition
while the people at the part of the coin oppose this in the name of the individual freedom
and right in the society. The word hijab usually means that they had is covered by
women—this garment different legal and social implications in varied countries
(Sikandar,et al. 2017). In a country like Iran, it is mandatory to wear hijab while France
has banned public school government institutions and universities. Muslim feminist has
analyzed the niqab. One of them was Qasim Asim, who was a man in 1899; he wrote
about the liberation of women. There are pieces of evidence in the past where educated
Iranian women lead a campaign against the niqab and propagate the liberation of
women from the shackles of orthodox social norms and rules (Leibold & Grose, 2016).
They view the veil as a symbol of submission and oppression. If the Quran( Muslim
holy book) view of the niqab is considered, it has viewed burqa as a metamorphic object
which has set the barrier between bad and good as well as a believer and the
nonbeliever (Piela, 2015). The university of north Carolina professor Saher Amer has
interpreted it was not mentioned in the Quran to cover the face of the women; in fact,
this idea predates Islam.

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The article by Themrise Khan also talks about her stance on the niqab. She
voices her support in favor of the Quebec Bill of 62, but she clearly mentions that she is
against the Quebec law of religious neutrality and said this law is a boon for the Muslim
women a most of the women do not agree with the idea rather they are faced with
wearing and this law has just addressed the issue (Ottawa Citizen, 2020). She explains
that she has seen women literally witnessed the women losing their identity as they are
chocking in the hijab. She, in this article, has highlighted that wearing the niqab the
women are relegating their identity through this and not being open to the world. She
also expressed her disappointment towards women who are defending their choice in
the name of the religion and doing nothing to stop this cycle (Ottawa Citizen, 2020). She
explains that this argument of the women does not stay as it is only about masculine
subjugation in the body of the female and not a matter of personal choice. However, in
the article, she states it does not stop women from attaining professional success. She
voices her opinion in the article and states that that bill 62 is about encountering
discrimination (Ottawa Citizen, 2020). She ends her article on the note that the niqab is
responsible for curtailing the freedom of women all over the world.
Functionalism
The functionalist theory, also known as functionalism, is one of the major theories
of sociology (Ferris & Stein, 2014). Originated in the work of Emile Durkheim, this theory
focuses on how social order is possible in society and how the sorcery can stay
comparatively stable. This approach of the theory always views society through a
macro-level orientation. It mainly focuses on the social structure, which is prevalent in
society, which helps society to shape (Burrell, & Morgan, 2017). This theory looks at the

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society at a macro-level of the social structure and does not focus on everyday life at
the micro-level. The functionalist theory emphasized the concept of consensus and
order that is prevalent in society, which is focused on shared public views and social
stability. From this perspective of the theory, it can be said that deviant behavior in
society culminates in a change in society; therefore, all the social components must
adjust in order to achieve stability. This part of the article is consistent with the article as
in the article, it is mentioned that Muslim women should condemn the societal norm of
imposed hijab, fight against the society, and garner their freedom from society as the
issue is about personal freedom and right. The deviant behavior of the women in
society will lead to social change, which is equality, and freedom for all the women and
society will change and adjust accordingly.
One of the perspectives of the theory talks about human functions. The human
function can be segregated into two functions one is the intentional function, which
means it is an obvious function and the other one which is the latent function it talks
about the function which is unintentional and of course not obvious (Habermas, 2015).
The manifest function would be attending the place of worship by the Muslim practice so
that they can practice their faith as they are a part of the religious community the latent
function is to follow the virtues that are in the religion. This aspect of the theory also
resemble with the article. as in one of the part the writer has said that the hijab has
become a Muslim identity just like the latent function and this has become so rooted and
unintentional in the women that they are defending their choice in the name of religion
and they have stopped themselves from voicing their opinion against the constant
violence against them (Ottawa Citizen, 2020) .

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The functionalist theory suggests the gender inequality of society exists in a
competent way. As a result the division of the labor is crated in the social system where
a particular section of the society is entitled as well as responsible for conducting certain
acts, and task and the other section of the society is responsible for doing certain acts,
for instance, the labor act (Goldthorpe, 2014). The theory further suggests that gender
inequality exists in society, so a division of labor is created, which will enable the society
to function more effectively (Giddens, 2016). The theory highlights the specific gender
roles. This view of the theory clearly contradicts the article, as it is evident throughout
the article, the authors view the view about gender equality. As the author said in a
section of the article that women are successful in all the professional sectors, whether
they are scholars, scientists, doctors, and politicians. Therefore, it establishes the fact
the author is not restricted about the gender role in society and believes that every work
can be done by women (Ottawa Citizen, 2020). She further propagates her idea of
equality in the article. She says that women are fighting for equality in all the countries
there, and therefore, using or wearing hijab or niqab is a symbol of religion only adds a
more complex layer to the area of painful struggle. The feminist movement has severely
criticized the functional theory and has blamed it for neglecting the women and
suppression of women who exist within the family structure.
Conflict Theory
According to the theory of conflict, society can be defined by a struggle for the
dominance which exists between the social groups, which leads to competition for
scarce resources (Haig, 2014). The theory was suggested by Karl Marx, who further
claims that society is always involved in a state of conflict because there is a limitation

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of resources in society. It is said by him that social order in society exists and is
maintained in society by those who have the domination power and does not depend on
the conformity or consensus among the individuals. The core philosophy of the theory is
that the individuals and the groups in the society actually work in society to maximize
their own benefit and are constantly striving to achieve their goal (Barker, Quennerstedt
& Annerstedt, 2015). The idea of competition and subordination can be applied in terms
of gender as well, where the patriarchy is continuing to exist in the society, especially in
the third world countries where women are constantly dominated and suppress through
patriarchal norms. This article clearly coincides with the view. The author in one part of
the article says that that defending wearing a hijab as a personal choice is humiliating in
the name or the sake of religion because the women are not doing anything to stop the
ending cycle of violence, and they are continuing to be dominated by the men. She
exclaims that Muslim women are subjugated to male domination through the everyday
day, and it is continuing in Canada as well. Therefore it can be said the dominant social
class that it is the men is imposing values on the weaker social class is evident in this
article.
According to conflict theory, the social problem arises when the dominant group
tries and succeeds in oppressing the subordinate group in society (Bystrova &
Gottschalk, 2015). The approach of the conflict theory is therefore normative as this
theory prescribes changes of the power structure in the society, thus advocating a
balance of power which exists between the gender in the society (Eckert, A., & Nilsson
2017). It is being said through the theory that the social problems are created in the
society when the dominant group goes o exploiting the subordinate group in the society.

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This theory also suggests that conflict between those two groups due has also lead to a
social change. The article supports this part of the theory as here in the article, and the
author is bashing the society for imposing the hijab on Muslim women. She, in her
article, says that the issue of the hijab is a conflicting issue for the women as they do
not agree with the philosophy behind the hijab; however, they have faith in the freedom
of expression and thought. She claims that she belonged from a country that was
socially and religious oppressive towards women. She believes that if the women rise
about the issue, it will ultimately bring about a change in society, and the new system
will be formed in society (Ottawa Citizen, 2020). She believes through the bill of 62 by
the Quebec this can be achieved; therefore, everyone should welcome the bill with an
open hand".
In the conflict theory, it is mentioned about the that in the society gender
inequality exist because the women are predominantly weaker and they will not be able
to defend themselves in the conflict while men due to their physical aspect are stronger
than the women and will be able to defend themselves in the society (Jamal, 2016). As
the women are weaker, they make compromises, and they put them in the lower strata
of society and in a less position than the men in society (König et al. 2017). Therefore,
once they are in the position of subordination, they are therefore simply incorporated in
the conflict pyramid, and they forever exist in like this. This aspect of the theory is totally
opposed in the article as the author never believes that women are weaker and they are
putting themselves in that position she rather believes that the society is dominating
them and they have the power in them to battle back and rise against all the odds. She
clearly mentions that bill 62 is about discrimination, thereby telling the reader that

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women are being discriminated against in society. She is one of the parts of the article,
mentions that Muslim women were blinded by shackles of century-old tradition, thereby
establishing the fact that it was not their choice to be subordinate, but rather it was
imposed by the society on them (Ottawa Citizen, 2020). There is always a reference for
women in Muslim countries fighting for their rights.
Symbolic Interactionist Theory
The Symbolic interactionism theory aims to understand the behavior of the
human. This is done by analyzing the behavior and the critical role of the symbols which
are involved in human interaction (Denzin, 2016). The theory explains the idea with an
example, if a person goes to a bank for application of loan and meet a lady repressive
they try to make an emotional appeal by stating their correct intention involved in the
application of the loan while if the male officer is encountered the applier takes a logical
approach. It is being said that the concept of gender, as well as sexuality, is constructed
by society. By this, it is meant that the cultural appropriateness of the gender-linked
behavior actually helps the people to perceive other people and see their sexuality
(Carter, & Fuller, 2015). This theory contrasts the other views of gender or sex and
promotes the idea the gender idea is not about biological determinism; it is rather about
a belief that is imposed by society (Adler, 2016). This perspective of the theory is
reflected in the article. The author time and again has mentioned in the article the issue
is about the domination of the society on the women that have lead to the wearing of
hijab as a symbol the society has framed the mind in such a way that the people are
discriminating against the women on the society. At one point in the article, she
mentions that the defense of the women on the issue of hijab as a personal choice is

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disappointing as they are backing the countries that are forcing the women to go into
oblivion.
This theory is very signnifanct in understanding the social significance which is
associated with sex as well as gender. The sociologist points that gender is the social
construct, which implies that one gender does not resemble the biological sex rather,
there is a strong social pressure that is associated and forces the society to act in a
particular way, which is based on the sex (Prus, 2015). It is believed that gender itself is
a social construct that has formed due to the interaction which is achieved through the
process of socialization. Through the process boy and girls both learn how to behave in
society how to talk, how to dress up, how to learn things and even the spaces where
they are restricted and where they are allowed. As the individuals began to learn the
meaning of feminine and masculine based on the roles and behavior, it is reflected in
them through social interaction. The theory further suggests all the people who interact
with each other on a daily basis they reaffirm the meaning the gender in the society, and
there are several changes that crop up to reshape the theory. This aspect of the theory
is clearly consiste5nt with the article. She at the beginning of the article has mentioned
that she belonged from a country that had the intent of hiding behind the intention of
hiding behind the veils and covering, which suggests that society subjects women in
their choice of clothes. She clearly is the later paragraph that has suggested that the
women have lost their distinction as they all were being covered in a veil as this hijab
starts to chock the people. She says that modern Muslim women are subjected to this
societal domination even today, and their mind is framed in such a way that they cannot
move beyond this and giving their justification in the name of religion.

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CRITICAL ASSESSMENT
Though the article talks about the banning of hijab on the women is right on the
part of Quebec's government and talks about the right of women in general and how
women were oppressed in the society by the Muslim norms and customer, the article
has several faults in it.
Firstly the article is very opinionated, and the article does not present many facts
and lacks substance; there are only four and five facts presented in the article, and the
whole article is very general. The author does not provide enough facts or evidence to
corroborate the ideas that she was presenting. She talks about various struggles of
women against social norms; however, she fails to give one such example, thereby
making the article as just venting her own opinion.
Secondly, in the opinion, she does not come up with another opinion or does not
allow another perspective in the opinion. There is no such instance in the article where
a perspective of the other women is taken or even a, and man is taken to back her
article. It seems that she is representing the whole community of women. There is also
a lack of sophistication in the article, as it is evident. She talks about how women are
exploiting their own social position by wearing it in the name of religion, thereby making
it a form that is chocking the neck. She says that it is humiliating for a woman to do this.
It is okay to have a perspective, but using these words seems like venting personal
opinion and nothing else. The author should have taken into account that a piece of veil
or a hijab may not restrict the Muslims who were in favor; it describes them. They may
have done it out of their choice and not under social pressure, and it may not seem like
a shackle but a legacy. Generalizing all the opinion is not the sign of a good article.

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There is also a lack of flow in the article. It seems like a fragment, it is not structured
rigidly, and it is not lucid.
The article also has a certain bias towards the Quebec government for their rule
in the bill of 62. There is various opinion which has termed the bill of 62 as an ostracizes
that is not even religious. The bill does not even talk particularly towards the women; it
just says that nobody should cover their faces. This is very unfortunate that even if
someone covers your face their personal reason, they cannot work for the Quebec
government. This is very improper because it does not restrict other religious behavior
or garb. And according to some authors, it reinforces the idea of the coercive state. In
social media, there was various opposition to the bill. The author should have presented
those views as well and could have countered it. However, she just gave a one-sided
perspective and thereby reflecting bias in the article.
There are women like the Omani women who believed that the choice of the
niqab or the veiling practices on the women should not be mandatory provision by the
government of the country rather it should be reflecting the personal choice of the
women which is rooted in the Islamic notion of respect and loyalty towards no Muslim
countries and women should have the freedom to dress accordingly and may or may
not follow their religious customs. This type of opinion is absent in the article, and there
is no criticism of the law in the article. For instance, it is not right of the government to
interfere in the personal choice of an individual. Therefore it can be said that the article
has a certain limitation as it does not have these opinions and have a certain bias.

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Conclusion
Therefore from the above discussion, it can be concluded that the article is based
on the wake of the law which was passed by the Quebec government, the bill known as
article 62 disallowed any people who cover their face through a veil, or a cloth would not
be entitled to serve any public service. It is evident that the author supports the decision
of the government and ha wrote her article to showcase how the hijab has been an
instrument that is used by the society to oppress and suppress norms in the barrier of
tradition and social norms. It can be concluded from the above discussion that the
article is several aspects are consistent as well as inconsistent with several theory. The
theories which have been mainly highlighted in the paper are the functionalist theory,
conflict theory, and the symbolic interactionist theory. There are different aspect of each
of the theory that is consistent in the article while there are other accepts as well, which
has been inconsistent in the article. It has been observed from the above discussion
that though the article is very empowering and addresses a grave social issue, it has
certain limitations that are very predominant in the article. The main issue that the article
faces is it does not present a holistic view about the topic and only presents the author's
view; however, and there are fewer facts and information to corroborate her opinions.
The second lacking was that the language is not that sophisticated, and empathy is
lacking in the article, and there is also a certain bias that is present in the article.
Despite all these limitations, the article continues to be a strong reflection of Muslim
women on the issue of women's freedom and speech. It gives a perspective to the
reader about a Muslim woman's perspective about article 62 and their view on niqab
and hijab.

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