Muslim Woman Confesses To Willingly Removing Hijab When Going To Work For Career Advancement

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IT IS not a new contention that some Muslim women find working life tough simply because they wear a hijab.
This is incredibly surprising given that its par for the course in Muslim-majority Malaysia where most Muslim ladies don head scarves.
But according to a post on In Real Life’s Facebook page, a Muslim woman’s account simply reinforces the view that for those working in non-Muslim organisations, the sight of hijab can work against the employee.
The story may even be fictional but that doesn’t detract the fact that many Muslim women feel they are discriminated against simply for fulfilling their religious obligations.

In the post, the 27-year-old claimed she felt that her career has suffered because she wore a hijab.
This prompted her to eventually removing it at her current place of employment which she believes has opened up more opportunities, including “bonuses, promotions and global assignments”.
However, she lamented “feeling torn between faith and career, family expectations and her future”. This is because she has to live a double life – at home, she’s the dutiful daughter in hijab yet she removes her hijab at her basement car park before walking into her office.
The post has elicited quite a few responses with some believing that the lady needs to show a little more conviction to her faith. One commenter argued it is all about work performance – not whether she is wearing a hijab.

Some commenters saw the solution as simply finding an employer that does not discriminate. That the employee needs to prioritise her faith over career was the advice proffered.

Interestingly, one presumably Muslim commenter made the very pertinent observation that the wearing of a hijab is NOT mandatory.
“Weakness of the faith isn’t depression but speaking without knowledge,” he added. This was met with a positive response and a suggestion that non-Muslims should just treat the hijab as fashion accessory and not discriminate.

One commenter highlighted that this is a deeply personal choice and the lady in question has to decide for herself what is important to her. Crux of the comment was “to believe in yourself, not what others want you to believe in.”

It is a sensitive issue, not least when race relations in Malaysia are currently at an extremely low point.

There should be no judgement and most certainly no discrimination. Every employee should only be judged on the merit of their work performances, no more, no less. –  Focus Malaysia

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