Are females who wear the hijab more likely to experience discrimination?: A national study of perceptions among American Muslim women

ABSTRACT

This study examined the relationship between wearing the hijab – a key spiritual practice for many Muslim females – and discrimination among a community sample of American Muslim women. The logistic regression results revealed that women who wore the hijab more frequently were more likely to experience religious discrimination during the past year. Other significant predictors of discrimination were English language proficiency and respondents’ Islamic tradition. The implications of the findings are discussed for direct practice with Muslim women in tandem with the need to create a cultural milieu that honors the right of women to wear the hijab free from harassment.

KEYWORDS:

• Hijab
• Muslims
• religious discrimination
• Islam
• women

Disclosure statement

The authors have no known conflict of interest.