Ana McKenzie has a friend who tried to imitate the lifestyle of Muslim women in America. His name is Spencer Wall, a young girl from West Texas, the fourth-year students majoring in English and sociology. He shared stories about her experiences.
I first noticed Spencer Wall in religion and society class at the end of last semester. He is not the talkative type, but the cloth that covered her hair, neck, and shoulders, making him look stand out in a large classroom.
Usually I only saw him briefly, with no attention at all. But, when he told friends in class about the decisions he made on April 27, I started watching it carefully.
Wall of a girl of age 20 years. He decided to follow the characteristics and the way Muslim women dress during the 1st year that began in late April yesterday.
He uses the veil and dress with a loose piece of him wherever he went and did not consume pork or alcohol in public places. He avoided eye contact and physical with men and imitate graceful habit, like walking with a docked arms at your sides or in front menyilangkannya to cover her breasts.
I saw the Wall perform daily activities when we met at Kerbey Lane recently.
He was wearing a scarf with color shades of green and blue, long-sleeved black shirt and long skirt aqua color. Only show skin a few inches.
"Some people who passed us try not to show their curiosity. Just trying to see glimpses. But most people do not even hide the view of excessive or conspicuous. "
Wall bypassed by a group of people who queued for a place to sit, and they all looked at the back of his head as he passed. A guy even rolled his eyes.
"It does not surprise me," Wall said when I told him about the group. "But, look around. They are not the only one that was so, "he said.
He asserted that what he was doing was not a social experiment, but more on personal learning experience. As a white woman who comes from a small town in West Texas, Wall said, he wanted to know what it feels like to be part of the community "observed minority."
"I do not represent Muslim women or Muslim community," he said. "I just want to know what it's like" walking with their shoes' for some time. "
Previously, Wall was prepared to "learning experience" it, in case someone asks him. The question usually asked, "You come from?"
He avoided things like that, so now when people ask about the clothes, he answered simply that he is not Muslim. But, wearing the hijab because she chose to do so.
Such explanations do not seluruhya wrong, because, as Wall says, he could not leave home without wearing it.
"Some time ago I've tried to not wear a veil for 24 hours," he said. "I actually could not do it, though for less than half a day."
Various reactions
Wall said, he got a reaction different when wearing the hijab. One time a guy ever hit the display of goods at Wal-Mart because he was watched. Another day a group of men subscribed restaurant where she worked refused to be served by it. The group is also calling him derogatory. But, he often avoided by the honorable way.
"I'm not saying there is no man who approached me. They approached me, but in a different way now. "He said. "More polite, not too obvious."
Experience has taught the Wall to watch the little things that make traditional Muslim lifestyle is hard to follow in the United States.
One day at a clothing store, the Wall must request a cover to cover the hole between the floor and fitting room door, so he could cover his legs when changing clothes. His work as a waitress also had to face an awkward situation because the nature of the work that must be physical contact with strangers, which it is forbidden for a Muslim woman.
Wall finally able to understand such privacy and respect. Perhaps an unexpected result of his experience is a growing belief on the Christian religion that he holds.
Religion Islam ordered his followers to pray five times a day, the first service begins at 5 am. Though Wall has not imitate the habit, he said maybe in the next time he will do it and more often.
"You know, we live in a society that is not indifferent to the daily religious activities," he said. "From this experience, I am more concerned with the Lord."
From all what we were talking about, I want to discuss something important with him, but I'm still deciding. Does he feel cramped or even depressed by the habits which he attempted to imitate it?
Wall candor to discuss issues like that makes me impressed with him. He repeatedly assured me that question, even on questions probing their nature and cause debate. It describes the maturity and intellect that are not common to girls of the age of 20.
"This experience taught me to respect the decision of a woman, whether she wants to stay home with their children, or wearing the hijab or a career outside the home and become a CEO," Wall said.
He stopped speaking, when a girl watching the back of the head of the Wall.
The girl's eyes for a moment to follow the lines of brightly colored scarf, and then immediately left. It seems she's not looking for pity for Wall, or because he felt resentment, anger or fear, but because of interest in her veil.
Wall said he would only show her hair in a closed room. I admit that I am a bit jealous of someone who can appreciate something, which I consider it normal.
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