In this article, Hoodfar views the veil as a religious symbol and a tradition that Muslim women choose to follow or ignore. She explains that the veil holds different meanings for different Muslim women. On its own, the veil is just a piece of cloth but the meaning women assign to it makes the difference. For example, some women wear the veil for beauty, some wear it to demonstrate respect for their values and traditions, while others wear it to hide their identity (Hoodfar, 1997). According to Hoodfar, Western cultures misrepresent the veil as a sign of oppression of Muslim women. Hoodfar explains that veiling practices have changed throughout history to accommodate the roles played by women and their positions in society (Hoodfar, 1997). Elite women who did not do any chores covered themselves more than those who worked around the house. Hoodfar’s main message was that Muslim women do not veil to limit their
