This summer, WUNC hired seven teenagers as part of its Youth Reporting Institute. One of them wears the hijab. She said that decision inspires many questions from strangers. Soraya Asfari explores why young Muslims choose to wear the traditional head scarf.
Muslim girls get questions all the time about the hijab.
Does it get hot in that? Do you shower with it on? Do you sleep with it? Can you wear it in front of your family? Can you take it off in front of girls? Are you bald?
Here’s the deal.
Yes, it can get hot wearing the hijab.
No, I don’t wear it in the shower or to bed.
Yes, I can take it off at home.
No, I’m not bald.
And the hijab isn’t weird. . .
Rafia and I are both students at Wake Early College, a diverse school. When we walk into the cafeteria for lunch wearing our hijabs, no one asks questions or thinks anything of it. We’re all mixed up with everyone else, and that’s just the way we like it.
