Spencer Wall, fourth-year English and sociology major, talks about her experience wearing a hijab on Wednesday night at Kerbey Lane Cafe. Wall, a Christian from West Texas, embarked on a personal experience in which she dressed as a Muslim woman for a year, starting in April.
I first noticed Spencer Wall in my religion and society class toward the end of last semester. She wasn’t particularly outspoken, but the shawl that covered her hair, neck and shoulders made her stand out in the large class.
I usually gave her nothing more than a completely unconscious glance. But when she revealed to the class the decision that she made on April 27, I suddenly became aware of the attention I gave her.
Wall, a 20-year-old sociology and English senior, decided to assume the characteristics and attire of a “typical” Muslim woman for a year starting in late April.
She wears the traditional veil, or “hijab,” and loose-fitting clothing everywhere she goes and does not consume pork or alcohol in public. She avoids eye and physical contact with men and has adopted modest habits like walking with her arms glued to her sides or crossed in front of her to hide her chest.
I witnessed the looks Wall gets on a daily basis when we met at Kerbey Lane on the Drag recently.
She’s wearing a hijab splashed with vibrant shades of green and blue. A long-sleeved, black shirt and floor-length aqua skirt reveals only a few inches of skin.
Some who pass us try to be inconspicuous with their intrigue, limiting themselves to quick side glances. But most don’t even try to be candid with their exaggerated double-takes or blatant stares.
She passes by a group waiting to be seated, and all of them stare at the back of her head as she walks away. One guy even rolls his eyes.
“It doesn’t surprise me,” she says when I tell her about the group. “But look around. They’re not the only ones.”
She insists her decision is not a social experiment but more of a personal learning experience. As a white female from a small, West Texas town, Wall says she wanted to know what it would be like to be part of a “noticeable minority.”
“I’m not representing Muslim women or the Muslim community,” she says. “I just want to know what it’s like to walk in their shoes for a while.”
Initially, Wall elaborates on her “learning experience” when people would ask her questions, the most common being “So, where are you from?” She has abandoned these efforts. Now, when people ask about her attire, she simply says she is not Muslim but wears the hijab because she chooses to do so.
This explanation is not entirely untrue, as Wall admits to not being able to leave her home without the clothing.
“I decided a while ago that I was going to try and not wear the hijab for 24 hours,” she says. “I couldn’t even make it for half that.”
Wall says she receives different reactions when she wears the hijab. A man once fell into a display at Wal-Mart because he was staring at her. One day a group of male patrons at the restaurant where she works refused to be served by her. The same group called her derogatory names. But most of the time she said she is just respectfully avoided.
“I wouldn’t say guys don’t hit on me, but they do so in a very different way now,” she says. “It’s more respectful, less forward.”
The experience has taught Wall to pay attention to smaller details that would make a traditional Muslim lifestyle difficult to follow in the United States.
One day at a clothing store, Wall had to ask for a sheet to cover a gap between the floor and dressing room door so she could hide her bare legs as she changed. Her job as a waitress presents one of the most awkward situations as it naturally entails a lot of physical contact with strangers, which is not allowed for Muslim women, she said.
Wall has grown to appreciate this sort of privacy and, in some ways, respect it. Perhaps the most unexpected outcome of the experience is a newfound devotion to her Christian faith. The Islamic faith requires followers to pray five times a day, the first prayer being at 5 a.m. Though Wall has not yet assumed this tradition, she admits she may in the future, and finds herself praying more often.
“You know we live in a society that is very unconscious of daily religious activities,” she said. “Throughout this experience, I have noticed myself becoming much more aware of God.”
Throughout our conversation, I find myself wanting to discuss the most obvious topic, but can’t bring it up without having to continually justify myself. Doesn’t she feel constricted and even oppressed by the practices she is assuming?
Wall’s candidness to discuss such issues validates my impression of her. She constantly reassures me to ask even the most probing questions and to present any debate, illustrating a maturity and intelligence uncommon for a 20-year-old.
“This experience has taught me to respect a woman’s decision to stay home with her children or wear a hijab or go out and become CEOs,” Wall said.
She finishes her sentence, as I notice a young woman staring at the back of Wall’s head.
Her eyes momentarily follow the outline of the brightly colored veil and then quickly move away. Instead of feeling sorry for Wall and assuming that the attention is warranted by feelings of resentment or fear, I soon wonder if the girl is instead intrigued by the hijab.
Wall admits to only showing her hair in the most intimate of settings, and I realize that I’m slightly jealous of someone who respects something I easily take for granted.
I have been married to a Muslim man for nearly 35 years now. During that time, I have never worn the hijab or felt the need to do this to protect myself from anyone. When you are a woman who is confident and respect yourself then everyone around you will treat you correctly. You do not have to cover yourself with robes to be respected. As a woman raised in Europe, I have always dressed nicely but conservatively. Many women in the US and Europe are women who respect themselves and dress properly and have the respect of men and people around them. When you find strength from within it doesn’t matter whether you wear the hijab or not. Be proud to be a woman and respect yourself. Following this will come the respect of others.
Your name
Wed Jun 17 2009 01:25
This girl is truly amazing and introspective.
Obama
Tue Jun 16 2009 11:58
why delete my comment?
Me
Mon Jun 15 2009 19:07
This is a great article and is necessary for many people to read. The fact that a Christian woman chooses to dress as a Muslim and finds herself treated with more respect by men (except for the men that have hate) illustrates a point that Muslim women have been trying to explain: that dressing modestly is about having respect for yourself and will lead to respect from others. I think for all the American Christians who seem to have a problem with Muslims (and I know not all do, but there are many), this would be an important article for them to read; to hear from another Christian that the traditions and practices of Muslims causes her to become more religious and closer to God. I thoroughly enjoyed this article and hope that it reaches many people.
I am also an American, and I am also Muslim. I cover, and I am so proud of this woman, who wanted to see what it is like, with no reason other than to KNOW, what it is like to be a Muslim in this society. No compulsion to drive her, no threats, not even having to do this, makes it all the more special. If it had been a “class project” or someone was forcing her or had talked her into this action, it would not have the same significance. Others in this country should walk a mile in ANYONE’S shoes, with no reason to do so, other than to learn from that experience. I thank you, Ms. Wall, for such an open heart, and for putting your actions into play and not just saying you understand what we are going through.
Hera: What about for women’s rights who choose to wear it? A lot of them wear it for modesty by their own choice instead of being coerced. France and Germany did not ban the hijab mainly because of the efforts of some Muslims to force it on both Muslim and non-Muslim women. They did it because they are Islamophobes. I do not see any nuns removing their headscarves by choice. Why don’t you talk to Muslim women wearing hijabs in your local area and ask them why they wear it? Maybe, you can get a better perspective.
to Hera if it’s a matter of women’s rights, doesn’t it follow that a woman should have the right to cover her own body or hair as she sees fit? the law is forcing & coercing a woman to do something she wishes not to do. your argument sounds a bit hypocritical to me.
Shira
Fri Jun 12 2009 20:56
I agree with Sabah’s comment on this one. Many women in many cultures cover their hair and choose to dress modestly. EVEN IN AMERICA. It is something that many women choose to do for themselves, for so many different reasons. I cover and wear modest dress and I’m Jewish. I get stared at, commented on and mocked for wearing ankle length skirts and a head scarf and I live in a major American city with a large Jewish community. People just can’t handle anything that is different. I think it is threatening to them. Why should I have to deal with stares and anger and rude sentiments because I don’t want to show off my hair and body? Why should my neighbor who is Muslim? I don’t think the article ever states that this young woman is trying to learn what it’s like to be Muslim or using Islam as an experiment. She’s simply trying to understand ONE facet of the experience of what it is like to be a woman in America who covers. I appreciate what she’s doing and the very positive tone of this article. We could all benefit from a little more mutual understanding and acceptance.
This is really great. Wall is doing something that we all should do, “put ourselves in other people’s shoes” and see the world as it is, not as others tell us.
Yasser
Fri Jun 12 2009 12:57
To Hera: I’m a 38 yrs old Muslim man and I never in my life witnessed what you say is the case (men forcing women to wear Hijab). Does it ever happen? maybe it does. But if so, it must be very extremely rare. We could simply impose a legislation that punishes men who do such thing instead of forbidding the overwhelming majority of women who freely and willingly want to wear it which constitutes violation of personal freedom. I hope you got my point.
Hera
Fri Jun 12 2009 10:04
The hijab was banned in France because women, including non-Muslim women were being coerced into wearing it by Muslim men. If the hijab is so wonderful why do Muslims feel the need to force women including non-Muslim women to wear it?
nazir salyani
Fri Jun 12 2009 08:30
I am really sorry to say that the western society is totally ignorant when it comes to RELIGION and CULTURES of the East, particularly more so when it comes to ISLAM after the massive ISLAMOPHOBIA masterminded by the last BUSH administration. The World needs peace. President OBAMA’S efforts should be supported by the entire world to create peace and universal Brotherhood amongst ALL peoples of the world. After all, life is too short for us to think about prejudices and hatred for each other. Let us make the best out of our life and LOVE EACH OTHER.
 "Photo: Mary Kang/The Daily Texan")
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