It is glorious in our region this week with lots of sunshine and nice spring weather overall. On Sunday, Sunshine, DH and I decided to cycle around a little. I have a collection of scarves and stoles which I rarely use. Since it was really sunny, I decided to tie my hair in a pretty fuchsia scarf. After cycling a little while, I pulled the end of the scarf over my nose and mouth because the sun was really strong and I don't use sunscreen as I am allergic to most of them. That is when the weirdness started.
Before I decided to pull the scarf across my face, I got a couple of curious looks from people who were cycling or walking and even some nods or 'hellos', but after, I got a lot of dropped jaws and strange looks. A bunch of men who probably took cycling very seriously by the looks of their cycles, their outfits and shoes, actually heckled me about the scarf. DH was a little ahead when that happened and Sunshine was on a child seat on his cycle. After that, he asked me to stay close to him and avoid such unpleasant experiences.
I am not a Muslim or a hijab wearer, but I believe I got some first hand experience of the prejudice some women have to face for the choice of attire that they make. I used the scarf only as a environment friendly sun block and I am determined to continue to use it despite the not so pleasant experience.
And I should mention that every time things happen that make me lose a little faith in humanity, something good happens immediately after, to restore it. On our way back, we were lost and asked directions to an older couple who accompanied us all the way back, talked a lot to us and tried to fool around with Sunshine. They saw the same scarf that everybody else saw, but that didn't stop them from being so friendly.
Before I decided to pull the scarf across my face, I got a couple of curious looks from people who were cycling or walking and even some nods or 'hellos', but after, I got a lot of dropped jaws and strange looks. A bunch of men who probably took cycling very seriously by the looks of their cycles, their outfits and shoes, actually heckled me about the scarf. DH was a little ahead when that happened and Sunshine was on a child seat on his cycle. After that, he asked me to stay close to him and avoid such unpleasant experiences.
I am not a Muslim or a hijab wearer, but I believe I got some first hand experience of the prejudice some women have to face for the choice of attire that they make. I used the scarf only as a environment friendly sun block and I am determined to continue to use it despite the not so pleasant experience.
And I should mention that every time things happen that make me lose a little faith in humanity, something good happens immediately after, to restore it. On our way back, we were lost and asked directions to an older couple who accompanied us all the way back, talked a lot to us and tried to fool around with Sunshine. They saw the same scarf that everybody else saw, but that didn't stop them from being so friendly.
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