Check out 16 Return-To-Work Programs In India For Ambitious Women Like You!
In the light of the recent focus on 'others' and 'outsiders' in the US, this poem explores the feelings of a woman who chooses to wear the hijab.
In the light of the recent focus on ‘others’ and ‘outsiders’ in the US, this poem explores the feelings of a woman who chooses to wear the hijab (headscarf).
modesty ripped
through a nation’s glare
a hijab unknots in fickle air
running behind cascading pride
outstretched hands fall inches short
as she takes a dive for the silken cloth
paisleys bunch up in graceful folds
gliding fluidly to meet the dust
trembling fingers reach out again to briskly cover the exposed bust
veil of deceit, that filthy rag
a nettlesome itch, a bramble in the eye
the fashion is un-american, they hotly chastise
take it off, let loose that hair
put your patriotism out on garish display
cause this ain’t land for traitors who kneel five times a day
they ask her to dismember a limb
to discard an identity she’s held since nine
her armour, her honour – politically embroiled; she’s shown dresses with rising hemlines
the country is theirs; her days are numbered
dreaded diktat arrives to prove the point
how do you separate body and soul when the two breathe conjoint?
she picks up knickknacks of her life
bottles up feelings, memories in a bag
watching agog the parade of eviction grand marshal flies the freedom flag
wet shame rolls down her cheeks
the dam of restraint finds an unbridled release
spare me, my sisters, she meekly pleads; i shall do as you say… as you please
Become a premium user on Women’s Web and get access to exclusive content for women, plus useful Women’s Web events and resources in your city.
Top image via Pixabay
Yogyata is the creator, nurturer and Chief Operating Officer of a family of four in Columbus, Ohio. She quit her corporate job after a busy season of uncovering financial infractions to address the more serious read more...
Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, individual posts do not necessarily represent the platform's views and opinions at all times.
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
UP Boards Topper Prachi Nigam was trolled on social media for her facial hair; our obsession with appearance is harsh on young minds.
Prachi Nigam’s photo has been doing the rounds on social media for the right reasons. Well, scratch that- I wish the above statement were true. This 15-year-old girl should ideally be revelling in her spectacular achievement of scoring a whopping 98.05% and topping her tenth-grade boards. But oddly enough, along with her marks, it’s something else that garners more attention – her facial hair.
While the trolls are driving themselves giddy by mocking this girl who hasn’t even completed her school yet, the ones who are taking her side are going one step ahead – they are sharing her photoshopped pictures, sans the facial hair, looking nothing less than a celebrity with captions saying – “Prachi Nigam, ten years later”.
Doctors have already diagnosed her with PCOD in their comments, based on photographic evidence. While we have names for people shamed for their weight – body shaming, for their skin colour- racism, for their age- age shaming, for being a female- sexism, this category of shaming where one faces criticism for their appearance has no name. With that, it also has zero shame attached to it.
Please enter your email address