Comment: Five truths about the hijab which need to be told Published on: 18 August 2016 Writing for The Conversation, Professor Peter Hopkins discusses why Muslim women wear the hijab. A Muslim woman wears the hijab , Rio 2016 is proving not just to be a platform for sporting prowess, it is also helping to shake up some traditionally-held cultural misconceptions too. In the West, many regard traditional Muslim dress like the hijab as a sign of oppression, with women forced to wear the garments by men. But it is not as simple as that: many women choose to wear the hijab as a sign of . Recently, 19-year-old Egyptian volleyball player Doaa Elghobashy鈥檚 decision to caused a stir. Her and partner Nada Meawad鈥檚 team uniform of long sleeved tops and ankle length trousers were already a to the German competitiors' bikinis, yet it was Elghobashy鈥檚 hijab that media attention focused on. Doaa Elgobashy at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Elgobashy and Meawad were the first team to represent Egypt in volleyball at the Olympics and, in the words of Elgobashy, the hijab which she has worn for ten years 鈥渄oesn鈥檛 keep me away from the things I love to do鈥�. The determination and sporting prowess that Elgobashy displayed is a polar opposite to the assumption that all hijab-wearing Muslim women are passive and oppressed. The that Elgobashy鈥檚 hiajb has also received is in direct contrast to the banning of burkinis in 鈥� though to look at both outfits, they cover the same amount of the body. Many Muslim women today are wearing hijabs and other traditional dress to challenge the assumption that these are symbols of control. In fact, there are several revealing truths about Muslim dress that society must hear. 1. Women are not forced to wear hijabs Some women choose to wear the hijab because it is a of origin, or because it is the norm in their local area, city or country. Others wear it to demonstrate their and for religious reasons. Like any item of clothing, some women wear the hijab for specific occasions, such as for family or community events, or during particular times of day but take it off at other times, such as wearing the hijab to and from school or work but taking it off while studying or working. A very small minority may claim to be . However, many studies show that in fact Muslim women choose to wear the hijab as a way of , power and agency. 2. You鈥檙e not sexually oppressed Many hijab wearers have said that they wear the veil not as a symbol of control by a man, but rather to . For many Muslim women, wearing a hijab offers a way for them to take control of their bodies and to that challenges the ways in which women are marginalised by men. Research has shown that for young Muslim women, wearing a hijab says little about the likelihood of them . Indeed, some young women have said they would wear the hijab to give them more space to engage in such activities. Pakistani activist, Nobel Prize laureate and hijab-wearer Malala Yousafzai. 3. You鈥檙e not more likely to be linked to terrorism Since 9/11, , alongside government counter-terrorism policies in many Western countries, has . British research has shown that government policies have resulted in Muslims receiving unjustified attention in , for example. They have also been shown to have created between Muslim communities and the police. For some hijab wearers, the hatred towards Muslim communities pushed them to stop wearing the veil after terrorist incidents, like the , in order to . However, at the same time others started to wear the hijab to show their commitment to their religious faith. The hijab therefore cannot be a fixed symbol, but is far more flexible and changeable 鈥� and certainly cannot be deemed a marker of terrorism. 4. It not a 鈥榃est versus rest鈥� division There are many different styles, colours and shapes of hijab including different ways of wearing it. There is also a focusing particularly on younger women. In many respects, the hijab is similar to any other item of clothing with businesses marketing different styles and brands in order to maximise sales. Patriotism, politics and hijab combine at a US democratic rally. This global fashion trade transcends national and regional boundaries. It is about maximising the market rather than reinforcing divisions between the West and the Muslim 鈥渞est鈥�. Rather than asking why a women is wearing a hijab to reinforce difference, we should ask what high street store or online retailer she purchased her clothing from and what attracted her to this brand. For some wearers, this is far more pertinent and telling of their personality. 5. The hijab is not something to be feared A recently published report of found that more than 60% of victims are women, and 75% of these women were visibly Muslim so were likely to be wearing some form of head-covering. Women were also more likely than men to suffer anti-Muslim attacks on public transport or when shopping. The vast majority of the perpetrators in these incidents were white men, motivated by stereotypes. So rather than being feared, it鈥檚 more likely that women wearing hijab might fear others. Muslim women wear the hijab for many different reasons all of which can change over time. This applies if the wearer is a community activist, an Olympic athlete like Elghobashy, a PhD student, a mother of young children or some or all of these. Any assumption that society attaches to the veil will never be right for each individual wearer, and it is for that very reason that we need to start changing the way we view it. , Professor of Social Geography, This article was originally published on . Read the . 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