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
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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) .