Abstract
Research connected to hijab has chiefly focused on immigrant Muslim women. The present paper has placed its inquiry in a largely Muslim society. This comparative study is geared to investigate the conditions and factors having to do with wearing hijab and other forms of dress. Three hundred and sixty-five women from different urban areas participated in the study. They were required to choose from among nine conditions. Analysis showed that the religious factor is most salient for those who wear hijab and self-decision/will was most significant for those who do not cover their heads and wear modern dress. Findings suggest that societal and religious pressures do not play a major role in determining the dress code of Muslim women in Pakistan. The present work emphasizes the importance of framing hijab studies within a social psychological perspective.
Keyword(s)
Hijab, Islamic dress, Muslim women, veiling, religious commands