Hijab Challenge at CSU, Fresno
- Yeng Xiong
- Aug 27, 2016
- 2 min read
A Fresno State student group annually hosts the Hijab Challenge to help raise Muslim cultural awareness on campus.
The Muslim Student Association has been hosting the Hijab Challenge since 2013. Hijab is a scarf worn by Muslim women, wrapped around their head.
The purpose of the Hijab Challenge is to “mainly raise awareness of the hijab and feed into people’s curiosity,” said Aya Qutob, a graduate student at Fresno State who is in charge of this year’s Hijab Challenge,
“Hijab is a piece of our daily clothing; it is a symbol of identity of Muslim,” said Qutob.
The hijab challenge will allow its participants to look like a Muslim for a day, which they’ll see how things are from a Muslim’s world.
“We want others to see from our perspective and have a sense of control.”
The preparation of the event started in August. MSA received scarf donations as well as donated some of its own. The event will run through Oct. 5-6 in the Free Speech Area from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
They have collected over 250 scarves to allow the participants to keep the scarves after the event “even if they just wear it as a normal scarf around their neck,” Qutob said.
“We are expecting well over 200 participants. We had asked some professors to offer it as extra credits on their syllabus.”
Hijab will not be the only thing provided at the event. Topi will also be provided. It is the cap that Muslim men wear; which will allow men to participant as well.
MSA will be filming as the events carries out, allowing participants to speak as they are participating with the challenge.
After the event on Oct. 6, there will also be a panel event from 6 to 8 p.m., when participants can continue to learn more about the hijab and even ask questions or voice what their own experience was like with the Hijab Challenge.
Qutob said, “Fresno State is not the only college campus that hosts the Hijab Challenge; high school are also doing it as well, but of course through their Muslim Club.”
For more information, contact:
Aya Qutob (559) 892-5225
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