#UnderTheHijab Aims to Break Stereotypes About Muslim Women
As the hijab comes under fire for being a symbol of patriarchy, terrorism or women’s oppression, a new movement has begun to make people realize what really lies beneath the hijab and aims to shatter stereotypes about Muslim women. On September 23rd, Mumbai-based educator Deepak Ramola started a campaign called #UnderTheHijab after an interaction he had with a Syrian woman in Hamburg who was called a terrorist by a bystander for wearing a hijab.
“After the interaction, I read an article about how young people were being brainwashed into forming strong negative opinions about hijab-wearing girls and women. That is how the series was born,” Ramola tells Buzzfeed. Moved by her story, Ramola uploaded this picture with the caption, “#UnderTheHijab is an incredible identity.”
Ramola invites artist to join him on his #UnderTheHijab quest and make illustrations that will help break stereotypes surrounding the hijab. All the illustrations are of faceless women and just their hijabs, showing that it could be anyone with hopes, dreams and aspirations under the hijab.
Soon enough, more illustrations poured in from all over the Internet with captions prefaced with “#UnderTheHijab is power,” to “#UnderTheHijab is the universe of diversity,” and much more.
WE SAID THIS: You can see the entire album here.
