The Practice of Wearing Hijab in a Multicultural Mosque of America

Authors

  • Muhammad Sigit Andhi Rahman Old Dominion University
  • Aini Firdaus Independent researcher, Universitas Gajah Mada

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21512/humaniora.v9i2.4430

Keywords:

hijab, cultural hybridity, multicultural space, Muslimness, America’s mosque

Abstract

This research examined the practice of wearing the hijab among Hampton Roads Muslim women of Islamic Center of Tidewater (known as the ODU Mosque) in Norfolk, Virginia. This research asked two main questions: how did Muslim women at the ODU Mosque negotiate the social meanings embedded in the hijab? And, how did the ODU mosque as a cultural institution and as a multicultural space for Muslim women shape their practice of wearing the hijab? This research followed qualitative research method. The observation was primarily conducted during November 2017. For this research, interviews were conducted with five Muslim women who were at least 18 years of age, resided in Norfolk. This research finds that there is a cultural hybridization of the practices of wearing the hijab among Muslim women of this community. Moreover, by using the concept of ‘space’ by de Certeau, the researchers contend that the mosque has become not only a place of worship but space for them to interact and negotiate their Islamic practices or so-called their Muslimness. The ODU mosque is a space for them to negotiate their practices of Islamic rulings including the hijab.

Dimensions

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Author Biographies

Muhammad Sigit Andhi Rahman, Old Dominion University

I am an Indonesian who currently doing my Ph.D. research under Fulbright Scholar Program at Graduate Program for International Studies (GPIS) of Old Dominion University (ODU), Norfolk, Virginia. My study interest focuses on the theme of how religious communities respond to globalization. I am also Lecturer on (study) leave at International Relations Study Program at President University of Indonesia. Currently, I am working on my Ph.D. dissertation on the topic of Takaful or Islamic Insurance Development while working as a Graduate Assistant (GA) as WebTech of College Arts and Letters of ODU.

Aini Firdaus, Independent researcher, Universitas Gajah Mada

I am a journalist and master student from Indonesia. I write family-related topics for a Muslim Magazine (Majalah Ummi) in Indonesia and travel articles for one of Indonesian airlines.

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Published

2018-07-11

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