Purdah as Choice or Constraint? A Sociological Study of Religious Agency, Modesty and Muslim Women in Contemporary India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31305/ijmds.v15n10.010Keywords:
Purdah, Hijab, Muslim women, Religious agency, Modesty, Patriarchy, IntersectionalityAbstract
Purdah is among the most contentious issues surrounding Muslim women in South Asia. While there are some who view hijab, burqa, and niqab as signs of oppression and male dominance; this view is flawed in that it cannot distinguish between a practice imposed upon a woman versus a practice chosen due to her beliefs, modesty and identity. The researcher examining purdah through the lens of agency, patriarchy, intersectionality, socialization, and negotiated choices. This study will be utilizing Jeffery, Kandiyoti, Crenshaw, Mahmood, the Quran, and Hadith which many women use to justify their practices. This research utilizes secondary sources such as Pew Research Center surveys, and reports published by the Government of India regarding Periodic Labor Force Surveys. Pew reports that 89 percent of Muslim women in India wear head coverings while in public. However, 86 percent of Sikh women and 59 percent of Hindu women also do so; therefore, wearing a head covering is part of a larger cultural pattern. Additionally, while it appears as though low labor force participation rates may be attributed to purdah; we must also take into consideration other factors such as education, class, caring responsibilities, discriminatory practices, and geographic location. Lastly, women should receive protection from both mandatory veiling and mandatory unveiling. The ultimate question should be whether a woman has a voice in determining what she wears, where she studies, and what type of job she performs.
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