I completely see and agree with your point, but please realise that parts of the article, esp in the first paragraph about Muslim women in the western world, though unintentionally, negatively alludes to the women under oppression more than the oppressive system itself.

Dear m,

Thank you for sharing your concerns. Being a woman, and being who I am, words like “hints of misogyny” go against everything I stand for. Allah created a way of life for us “Truly, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam” – Ale Imran (3:19) and among many things,He prescribed a method of dress and modesty for Muslims. I care so much for the women of the world, that I wish to aid in their empowerment through knowledge. Being a mother of 4 children, two of whom are girls, I am very aware of and concerned for the pressure placed on girls to publicly wear clothing that portray them in a sexual manner. There have been many appeals by non-Muslim young women and organizations to big name clothing companies who share the same concern. My intention is not to “shame girls” who do not share my opinions, I wish to inform us all of the scientifically proven psychological reasons behind dressing in a particular way and their cognitive and social ramifications.

Dear May Seoud,

May Allah reward you for your contemplations. Let me be very clear that the statement you quoted referred to feeling compelled to wear bathing suits in public. No where in my article did I state that a woman wearing hijab is better than any other woman. In both Muslim and Interfaith settings I have publically stated that the hijab is an outer manifestation of one of Allah’s commandments. In and of itself it does not declare one’s quality of prayer or any other hidden form of worship and should never be used as a tool for judging others.
This article is addressing the issue of negative attention surrounding hijab. Therefore, my topic is related to hijab and how those who wear it are misconceived. I, too am Egyptian and did live in Egypt in my adulthood for 3 years while studying and raising 2 children there. I do understand the perspective of both living in the West and living in a Muslim country. That being said, I did not grow up wearing hijab, so I understand very well the unfortunate finger pointing and judgment associated with Muslim women who do not wear hijab. If the American Psychological Association felt concerned and compelled enough to address how bathing suits pressurize women and research the negative implications of how women and girls in general are portrayed in the media, why is it wrong for me to share a similar concern?

Finally, in reviewing the quoted statement, I will ask the editors to remove the word “superficial” as this sounds judgmental. I apologize.

Jazaki Allahu Khairan
Lobna Mulla

Salam brother. As a Muslim girl who attended a Catholic school and always respected and valued differences in religion rarely have had the opportunity to be introduced to such respectful and open-minded people like yourself. May the Lord be pleased with you!