Our Sister's Keeper

By SHEEMA KHAN*
Tuesday, December 31, 2002 Globe and Mail

'Do you have to wear that thing on your head?"

This was the final question during my job interview for a research position at a Canadian university. Apparently, my PhD in chemical physics from Harvard, research publications and postdoctoral research at MIT weren't enough to convince my interviewer that I qualified for the job. It came down to "that thing" on my head, the hijab -- the Islamic headscarf that forms part of my faith.

While at Harvard, I had undergone personal changes that reflected spiritual evolution, including a renewed commitment to Islam. For me, prayer, modesty and gratefulness filled a void. Wearing the hijab as stipulated in the Koran is an act of worship -- not unlike the headcovering worn by an Orthodox Jew or observant Sikh.

Trying to control my anger, I replied that the way I chose to dress was irrelevant to my ability to do scientific research. If the interviewer felt I could do the job based on my track record, then he should hire me. If not, then we should stop wasting each other's time. I also knew that, if I were turned down, my next step would be to go to the provincial Human Rights Commission.

Then the interviewer confided that he had no problem but feared that others would. How ironic, I thought: Scientists claim to be rational but think so illogically about an individual's potential. (I got the job, and my employer and I developed a good working relationship.)

But many Muslim women, who choose to abide by the hijab,aren't so lucky in Canada's most multicultural city. According to a government-funded study, "No Hijab Is Permitted Here," visible Muslim women faced clear discrimination when applying for jobs at fast-food outlets, retail stores and factories in Toronto. Some were even told to remove their hijab as a prerequisite. The study's authors made 23 recommendations, including educating Muslim women on their rights, and advising employers that wearing the hijab has no impact on a woman's ability to carry out her job.

Some have minimized this study by saying the sample size was too small. Yet, imagine tossing a coin 16 times and coming up with 10 heads, two tails and four indeterminate outcomes. One would reasonably conclude that the coin was tailored toward "heads." In the study, a pair of equally qualified women -- one with hijab,one without -- inquired at 16 job sites. The result: at 10 sites, the woman without hijab was asked to fill out applications immediately, while only two sites asked the woman with hijab to do the same. Would tossing the coin more times give very different results?

For all their self-righteous efforts to "save" Muslim women in other countries from oppressive cultural practices -- such as the denial of education and employment, female genital mutilation, and honour killing -- Canadian women's groups and prominent feminists have been conspicuously silent on the denial of job opportunities to Muslim women right here at home.

Our sisters are not asked to agree with the hijab -- only to stand by the principle that no woman should be denied the right to choose her religious practices or to work at a job for which she's qualified because of her appearance. Some excuse the prejudice of employers, citing the Western perception of hijab as a symbol of oppression. Yet, isn't it oppressive to tell a Muslim woman in Canada that she cannot work because of her choice of dress?

In 1994, Quebec schools expelled female Muslim students for wearing the hijab. The rest of Canada seemed to feel that such overt racism only existed in Quebec. Suffice it to say that racism, a human weakness, exists across Canada.

Our multicultural paradigm has actively promoted inclusiveness, and provided means of redress to those denied opportunities to rightfully participate. These are values that Canadians hold dear. But the events of 9/11 have increased mistrust of Muslims; our mosaic strains under the weight of fear.

Education and legislation are key to the fight against racism. Leaders in government, community relations, academia and business must denounce it. Employers must know they are breaking the law when they discriminate, and Muslim women must know they have recourse to justice.

Finally: Please don't feel sorry for us. Given the post-9/11 climate, a Muslim woman who chooses to wear her hijab and participate fully in society has courage. Despite prevalent negative attitudes, she is secure in the knowledge that God strengthens those who seek divine help. And isn't a confident woman an excellent asset for our society?

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*Sheema Khan is chair of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Canada.

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