Gendered Nativism explains a problem that we’re all familiar with. Cainkar points out the parallels with Japanese internment, which goes to show this is a pattern that happens over and over again (232). It happened to Catholics in the 1850’s (237). The Other is a societal avocation all too easily obliged by those who are different. So it’s really no surprise hijab wearers were easy targets for bigotry and knee-jerk jingoism, post 9/11. Considering the predictability of alienation, I thought the most interesting point of the article was the woman who thought there was Qu’ranic precedent for wearing hijab; according to Cainkar it isn’t (252), so maybe Muslim women shouldn’t wear hijab, but then again this ignores the elephant in the room—that judging people based on a piece of cloth is absurd. Capitulation would be just as absurd.
Weblogistan reminded me of Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving? in its point that Iranian bloggers’ intentions are sensationalized by western media (Shakhsari, 12). Although blogs are an outlet for criticism, it’s farfetched to think Iranians believe Iran to be the anti-democratic disaster seen by Westerners.