Modesty or Liberation

Anisah Mahamoud, Co-Deputy Editor, BA International Relations 09/12/2024

In recent years, the discourse around women’s rights has made notable strides. From the #MeToo movement to growing conversations around reproductive rights, much has been done to challenge traditional notions of women’s roles in society. Yet, one prevailing narrative continues to overshadow these progressive shifts: the portrayal of Muslim women as inherently oppressed. This reductive view not only fails to capture the complexity of their lived experiences but also perpetuates a harmful double standard within the feminist movement, especially when it comes to issues of autonomy, choice, and modesty. 

Muslim women are often cast as victims of patriarchy, especially when it comes to their choice to wear the hijab or adopt other modest forms of dress. Western discourse frames this as a sign of oppression, ignoring the agency and empowerment many Muslim women find in their faith and clothing choices. In a stark contrast, women are praised for their autonomy when choosing to participate in platforms like OnlyFans, where the expectation is to strip away modesty for financial gain. Why is it that modesty, often a personal or religious choice, is demonised, while hypersexuality is marketed as a path to empowerment? 

This contradiction highlights a larger issue in Western feminism: the failure to champion female autonomy when it doesn’t align with mainstream ideals of sexual liberation. Feminism in the West prioritises individual freedoms that fit within a specific framework, and it leaves little room for the nuanced realities of women who choose religious modesty and who reject objectification. Autonomy goes both ways. Women should be able to dress modestly without facing shame or guilt, just as they should be free to express their sexuality if they wish. 

This selective support for women’s rights is evident on a global scale, especially when we look at women’s realities in the Global South. The feminist movement’s silence on issues like the lack of medical supplies for Palestinian women during childbirth, for instance, is deafening. Women in Gaza, who are struggling to bring life into the world amidst constant violence and scarcity, are denied not only their dignity, but their most basic human rights. Where is the outcry? Why does feminism falter when it comes to the most vulnerable women in conflict zones? 

Many women in the Global South continue to fight for access to education, healthcare, and equal opportunities. Feminism in the West does little to address these systemic inequalities. It overlooks the fact that women in impoverished regions are struggling with fundamental human rights issues, such as the ability to make decisions about their own bodies in the face of poverty or war. If feminism truly supports women’s rights, it must be global, and it must encompass the struggles of women from all cultures, races, and religions—not just those who fit into a specific Western mould. The debate over France’s ban on the hijab in schools is a clear example of this. Many supported it as a step toward women’s liberation. However, Muslim women in France and beyond argued that the ban infringed on their rights by denying them the freedom to express their religious and cultural identity. 

The rhetoric that Muslim women are oppressed needs to be re-examined. We must recognise that oppression comes in many forms. While some Muslim women may face challenges that are rooted in societal patriarchy or cultural restrictions, many others find empowerment and strength in their choices to cover and express their faith. Muslim women should not be judged for their decisions, whether to cover or to unveil, just as any other woman should not be shamed for her choices of how she presents herself to the world. True feminism lies in supporting the autonomy of women to express themselves, in whatever way feels right for them, without fear of societal judgement. 

Feminism in the West must evolve beyond its narrow views of women’s rights. The right to choose how to dress, how to live, and how to engage with the world is fundamental to the feminist cause, but that freedom must include all women. Muslim women deserve the space to define their own sense of freedom and dignity. Autonomy is not just about rejecting societal expectations, it is about having agency - whether that’s to cover, to uncover, or to do something entirely different - without being boxed into a narrative of oppression. True equality and liberation are about respecting these choices, and supporting women in whatever form of autonomy they seek to achieve.