Abstract
Hijab as an Islamic value and divine duty is emphasized, and it is necessary in university settings. The misveiling is a social phenomenon, and its social, political and cultural aspects must be studied for understanding its factors and causes. The aim of this study was to understand how the process of confronting students with hijab. A grounded theory design was used. The data were collected by semi-structured interviews from sixteen students who left their veiling, eleven students with veiling, three advisors, two Vice in Student and Cultural Affairs and three family members of students who left their veiling. The participants were selected through conventional and theoretical sampling method, and the data were analyzed simultaneously by continuous comparisons based on Strauss and Corbin (Basics of qualitative research: procedures and techniques for developing grounded theory, Sage, Thousand Oaks, CA, 1998) method. Sociocultural paradox of hijab was appeared as the main (core) variable affecting the process of confronting students with hijab. The main variable in this study includes six axial codes: sociocultural paradox, transformation of values, values selection, adherence to spiritual, doubt in beliefs and normative conflict. The process of acceptance/rejection of the hijab occurs because of sociocultural paradox after the transformation of values. In the meantime, person thinks about strategy. The person’s strategy to accept/leave the hijab is based on her beliefs. By adherence to spiritual, veiling can be strengthened and weakened by doubts in beliefs. In order to promote hijab, it is necessary to pay attention to its underlying conditions and causes. Individual beliefs and values must be strengthened for promoting hijab.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Akhlaghi, K. (2014). Role of misveiling in reducing the women’s social security. Journal of Metropolitan Police Knowledge,6(20), 127–165.
Alavi, S. H., & Hojjaty, R. (2007). Factors affecting the bad veiling of Kerman Shahidbahonar University girls. Bi Quarterly Of Islamic Education,2(4), 63–68.
Allen, C. (2015). ‘People hate you because of the way you dress’ Understanding the invisible experiences of veiled British Muslim women victims of Islamophobia. International Review of Victimology,21(3), 287–301.
Ayazi, S. (2007). Survey of obligatory of hijab in religious government. Journal of Women’s Cultural and Social Council,9(36), 161–188.
Azimian, M., & Beheshti, S. (2009). The philosophy and realm of the hijab in Islam and its educational effects. The Quarterly Journal of Islamic Education,4(8), 75–103.
Bagheri, S., & Bagheri, M. R. (2012). Cultural requirements of policy making system for hijab and dignity. Iranian Journal of Cultural Research,5(3), 31–45.
Barkhordari, Z. (2012). Farabi on virtuousness and Islamic dress, hijab, as a value. Pazhuhesh Name-E Akhlagh,5(16), 47–63.
Beaman, L. G. (2013). The will to religion: Obligatory religious citizenship. Critical Research on Religion.,1(2), 141–157.
Chavoshi, A., Talebian, D., Habibi, M., Ehsanian, A., Kateb, Z., & Dehaghin, V. (2008). The best hijab: Personnel and referral women’s approach in medical centers. Journal of Behavioral Sciences.,1(2), 155–161.
Coene, G., & Longman, C. (2008). Gendering the diversification of diversity: The Belgian hijab (in) question. Ethnicities,8(3), 302–321.
Depalma, R., & Lopez, L. C. (2014). The hijab and the integration of the muslim other in Spanish schools. Policy Futures in Education.,12(1), 163–174.
Edmunds, J. (2013). Human rights, Islam and the failure of cosmopolitanism. Ethnicities.,13(6), 671–688.
Emami, M., Taheri, M., & Motahhar, Nezhad M. (2014). Analyzing the veiling issue (hijab) in Iranian universities with emphasis on cultural planning. Culture in the Islamic University,4(3), 451–478.
Entesar Foumany, G., Kawandi, S., Kamali, N., Entesar Foumany, M., & Entesar Foumany, F. (2014). Comparison of social immunity and mental health in women with poorly-veiled and well-veiled (hijab). Woman & Study of Family,26(7), 7–22.
Enright, M. (2011). Girl interrupted: Citizenship and the Irish hijab debate. Social & Legal Studies,20(4), 463–480.
Faas, D., & Ross, W. (2012). Identity, diversity and citizenship: A critical analysis of textbooks and curricula in Irish schools. International Sociology.,27(4), 574–591.
Fazelian, P. (2011). A review of the relation between the kind of veil and the level of social security among women living in tehran. Pazhuheshname-Ye Zanan (Women’s Studies),1(2), 65–86.
Geraati, M. (2011). Moments with the Qur’an. Teharn: Quran Cultural Center.
Gharavi Naeeni, N., & Ameri, V. (2009). A probe into the meaning of hijab. Journal of Women’s Socio-Cultural,9(36), 113–137.
GholiPour, A. (2006). The government’s role in institutionalizing Hijab. Journal of Women’s Cultural and Social Council.,10(37), 10–36.
Gould, R. (2014). Hijab as commodity form: Veiling, unveiling, and misveiling in contemporary Iran. Feminist Theory.,15(3), 221–240.
Hamidi, N., & Faraji, M. (2008). Lifestyle and women’s clothing in Tehran. Iranian Journal Of Cultural Research.,1(1), 65–92.
Holley Quran. (2016). Mashad, Iran: Astan Print.
Hosseini Doost, S. (2001). Allameh Tabatabai University students’ attitudes toward women’s clothing and social factors affecting it. Tehran: Allameh Tabatabai University.
Iravani, M. (Ed.). (2010). Investigate the causes of misveiling and unveiling and providing practical solutions to combat it. Selection of articles National Congress of chastity and the veil. Yasooj Medical Science University.
Jiwani, N., & Rail, G. (2010). Islam, hijab and young Shia Muslim Canadian women’s discursive constructions of physical activity. Sociology of Sport Journal.,27(3), 251–267.
Kermanshahiyan, O. (2000). Tendency to with draw the veil and among Students of Tehran University and its Sociological causes [Thesis]. Tabatabaei University, Tehran, Iran.
Khajenoori, B., Ruhani, A., & Hashemi, S. (2012). Tendency towards hijab and different lifestyles case study: Shiraz women. Journal of Applied Sociology.,23(3), 141–166.
Lefdahl-Davis, E. M., & Perrone-McGovern, K. M. (2015). The cultural adjustment of saudi women international students: A qualitative examination. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology,46(3), 406–434.
Lentin, R. (2012). Turbans, hijabs and other differences: ‘integration from below’ and Irish interculturalism. European Journal of Cultural Studies,15(2), 226–242.
Majerajoo, M. (2010). Women’s and Girls Needs and Hijab. Qom, Iran: Ghodsian Publishing group’s.
Mirkhani, E. S. (2012). Contemporary challenges and the necessity of research on chastity and hijab in the mirror of Shari’a principles and objectives. Pazhuheshname-Ye Zanan (Women’s Studies),2(2), 103–131.
MokhtarianPour, M., & Gajail, A. (2011). Institution of chastity and the veil in society; process approach. Journal of Cultural Research.,4(2), 117–151.
Molaei, J., & Yusefvand, S. (2014). Sociological study of factors affecting the orientation towards the hijab (case study: Female students of Payam Nour University in Abdanan). Quarterly Journal of Women and Society.,5(3), 35–46.
Nabavi, S., & Shahriari, M. (2012). The causes of poor coverage (hijab) among female students and strategies for its optimization in theory and practice. Journal of Cultural Engineering,7(69–70), 63–85.
Pasha-Zaidi, N. (2015). The Hijab Effect: An exploratory study of the influence of hijab and religiosity on perceived attractiveness of Muslim women in the United States and the United Arab Emirates. Ethnicities.,15(5), 742–758.
Pereira-Ares, N. (2013). The politics of hijab in Monica Ali’s Brick Lane. The Journal of Commonwealth Literature.,48(2), 201–220.
Rastegar Khaled, A., Mohammadi, M., & Nagipour, Eivaky S. (2012). A study of social action styles of the women and girls toward veil model and it’s relation with internet and sputnik consumptions. Women and Family’s Socio Cultural Council Quarterly.,14(56), 7–82.
Rejali, M., Mostajeran, M., & Lotfi, M. (2012). The attitude of female students of health towards hijab and its related factors. Journal of Health System Research.,8(3), 424–430.
Ruby, T. F. (Ed.). (2006). Listening to the voices of hijab. Women’s Studies International Forum. Amsterdam: Elsevier.
Safarzadeh, S. (2010). The women’s veiling role in mental health of the society and the confronting approaches to misveiling culture. Women and Culture,2(2), 59–72.
Salajegheh, A., & Mosapour, N. (2011). A survey on comparing the model of hijab in students of state, payame Noor and Islamic Azad universities in different situations: The case study of Baft city-Kerman. Quarterly Iranian Journal of Cultural Research.,4(3), 153–176.
Saleh Abadi, I. (2014). A sociological study on the hijab among the females in Isfarayen. The Sociology Of The Youth Studies Quarterly (Faslnamah-Takhassusi-Jame Shenasi Motaleate Javanan),4(12), 113–136.
Sefidi, F., Mafi, R., Gadimi, F., & Taherpour, M. (2013). The effect of hijab on self-esteem among the students of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences. Culture in the Islamic University,7(3), 217–228.
Shams, T. (2015). Bangladeshi Muslims in Mississippi: Impression management based on the intersectionality of religion, ethnicity, and gender. Cultural Dynamics.,27(3), 379–397.
Sharepour, M., Taghavi, S. Z., & Mohammadi, M. (2012). A sociological analysis on the effective factors in tends to hijab: Case study: Tends to hijab among girl students of Mazandaran University. Iranian Journal of Cultural Research.,5(3), 1–29.
Shokati, A., & Hajighassemloo, F. (2011). Hejab (veil) in different nations, religions and faiths. Women and Culture.,2(7), 97–105.
Siraj, A. (2011). Meanings of modesty and the hijab amongst Muslim women in Glasgow, Scotland. Gender, Place & Culture.,18(6), 716–731.
Sloan, L. (2011). Women’s oppression or choice? One American’s view on wearing the hijab. Journal of Women and Social Work.,26(2), 218–221.
Speziale, H. S., Streubert, H. J., & Carpenter, D. R. (2011). Qualitative research in nursing: Advancing the humanistic imperative. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. (1998). Basics of qualitative research: Procedures and techniques for developing grounded theory. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Tayebineya, M., & Ahmadi, H. (2014). Structural equation modeling hijab and chastity. Sociology of Women (Journal of Woman and Society),4(4), 47–69.
Zimmerman, D. D. (2015). Young Arab muslim women’s agency challenging western feminism. Journal of Women and Social Work.,30(2), 145–157.
Funding
Mahdi Fania was funded by Religion and Health Research Center of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (Grant No. 14.3.2014).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
Informed Consent
This study is the result of a research project. The current study has been conducted with qualitative approach and grounded theory. In this research, the participants were female students who previously observed Islamic hijab completely and they were chosen purposefully. Before performing the research, all participants received informed consent. Confidentiality as the basic principle in the research was explained to all participants, to ensure confidentiality of personal information. Elements of included in an informed consent the present study included the following: purpose of the research, procedures involved in the research, alternatives to participation, all foreseeable risks and discomforts to the subject. (physical injury, psychological, social, or economic harm, discomfort, or inconvenience), benefits of the research to society and possibly to the individual human subject, length of time the subject is expected to participate, Statement indicated that participation is voluntary and that refusal to participate will not result in any consequences or any loss of benefits that the subject is otherwise entitled to receive statement regarding the subjects’ right to confidentiality and right to withdraw from the study at any time without any consequences.
Ethical Approval
All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fani, M., Mohtashami, J., Karamkhani, M. et al. Confrontation Process of Students with Hijab. J Relig Health 59, 204–222 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-018-0712-1
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-018-0712-1