A Critical Analysis of Orientalists' Viewpoints on Islamic Hijab in the Last Century

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Comparative Interpretation, Bent al-Hoda Higher Education Complex, Al-Mustafa International University, Qom, Iran.

2 Department of Islamic Theology, Bent al-Hoda Higher Education Complex, Al-Mustafa International University, Qom, Iran.

10.22034/ijwf.2025.15191.2049

Abstract

Islamic clothing, especially Hijab, has been one of the most challenging issues in the history of Orientalism studies. The present study aimed to review the viewpoints of orientalists on Islamic Hijab in the last century using Spragens' critical-analytical method. The results showed that the criticisms of orientalists are based on biased and ideological foundations, not scientific and objective analyses. The media are known as effective tools in countering this negative propaganda to the extent that they can strengthen the culture of Islamic Hijab by changing attitudes and misconceptions and help to dispel existing doubts about it. The results also indicated that orientalists consider Hijab a sign of backwardness of Muslim women, while this clothing is a symbol of the religious and cultural identity of Islamic societies. In the present study, strategies such as indirect valuation by governments, norming, symbolizing, and justifying public opinion toward lifestyle changes were presented to raise awareness and confront the negative views of orientalists, and the importance of using mass media to promote and institutionalize the Hijab culture in the contemporary world was emphasized.

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