I really don't desire to begin a firestorm here, but I feel compelled to ask:
Am I the only person who is thinking, "You are in America, in an American medical school, with certain manditory OR rules. Unless you can get yourself some sterile burkas or head scarves or whatever, lose the head gear. The OR mask and cap cover most everything anyway. So why not just get over it? If you chose to come to a school here, like everyone else, you might have to sacrifice a few things that you're used to."
Again, am I the only one thinking this? Or am I about to just get pummelled by the posters at large?
Hijab for women has to cover the ears, hair and neck areas. Now I have seen many muslima physicians pull back their scarf near their ears temporarily to use the scope, so that can be argued, but I have no issue with that personally. As to the term burkha...please don't use it as it has no relevance to a majority of the muslim world (even traditionally from my part of the world, being Iran, where some wear the Chador and many others wear a Manteau).
(On a side note, many people mistake regional/local cultural norms with the Islamic religion...please look closer and you will truly discern the difference and see the diversity that exists within the Islamic world [we do comprise a third of the world's population]).
As to the "You're in America" comment, I would highly suggest a revision of the history of the US so that one may truly understand how this country came to be. Please don't make comments such as those, because it truly makes a person look ignorant. We had some ******* at my undergrad in UGA make a similar comment to someone speaking Spanish and assaulted him with dire results for the victim. Society, common sense and human decency does not tolerate such rude and close-minded attitudes.
I have seen many successful applications of hijab (which simply is a covering of any sort....so let us refer to the OR example. An excellent way to go about doing this is indeed having the cap pulled down closer around the ears, with the mask covering the side fairly well. A simple neck scarve or cloth of sorts can also be wrapped around the cervical area so as to provide ample coverage (lighter, cooler cloths would be most comfortable).
As to my background, I am a male Muslim. Men in Islam must also be adherent to hijab. We must have proper and adequate covering, and our hijab also extends to how we direct our eyes and conduct ourselves.
I am not speaking in tones of anger, so please do not misconstrue my meaning. I only speak from the p.o.v. of a blunt and educational statement of facts.
Wa salam to my sisters and everyone else.
