{"id":542,"date":"2014-03-31T10:43:47","date_gmt":"2014-03-31T15:43:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/college\/cce\/blog\/?p=542"},"modified":"2014-03-31T10:43:47","modified_gmt":"2014-03-31T15:43:47","slug":"2014-fannie-bigelow-fatima-bawanys-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/college\/cce\/blog\/?p=542","title":{"rendered":"2014 Fannie Bigelow: Fatima Bawany’s Story"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 2014 Women’s Leadership Awards allowed various women to share their stories with us. They were inspiring and we wanted to share them with you.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fatima Bawany\u00a0is a junior studying Religion and Biology. She won the Fannie Bigelow Award. Below is her personal statement.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s that towel on your head?\u201d I can\u2019t count the number of times I have been asked\u00a0this question.<\/p>\n

I chose to wear hijab, the Muslim head covering, during high school as a symbol of\u00a0commitment to my faith. As I entered school on the first day, I had no idea that it would produce\u00a0such a reaction. I was greeted with stares, gasps, and a barrage of questions, some bordering on\u00a0the ridiculous. I soon realized that the hijab would signify more than just a change in appearance;\u00a0it would mean a change in character.<\/p>\n

Over the years, it has grown on me, serving as a reminder of my identity and values. It\u00a0has given me the responsibility of furthering my own religious knowledge in order to portray\u00a0Islam in its true light. Now, I no longer avoid the questions it draws. Whether through blogging,\u00a0writing editorials in the local newspaper, or speaking to communities across Rochester about my\u00a0decision to wear hijab, I feel honored to act as a representative for my faith, for brave women\u00a0everywhere who have challenged societal perceptions on beauty.<\/p>\n

In this post-9\/11 society, many people associate my hijab with oppression, terrorism, and\u00a0extremism. In fact, my hijab is liberation and empowerment. Covering my body has allowed me\u00a0to unveil my voice, ideas, and actions as a strong and capable young woman.<\/p>\n

As I continue to answer questions about hijab, all the while increasing my confidence and\u00a0molding my individuality, I also strive to help others express their own unique identities. On\u00a0campus, I have helped to create the Students\u2019 Association for Interfaith Cooperation (SAIC), in\u00a0order to empower students to share their different spiritual traditions and experiences with each\u00a0other. Though faith can be a taboo topic, SAIC has allowed us to break barriers by creating a\u00a0welcoming environment where students are allowed to question, to discuss, and to understand
\ndifferences.<\/p>\n

My goal to connect with people of different backgrounds has not only encompassed
\ndiversity in faith, but also in cultures. In order to explore cultural diversity in Rochester, I spent a\u00a0year as a regular volunteer in the refugee community. The heartbreaking stories of violence and\u00a0hardship that I heard from young children quickly inspired me to organize student-run festivals\u00a0and service trips in subsequent years to help refugee youth feel a sense of belonging in\u00a0Rochester, and to instill a sense of social responsibility in Rochester students.<\/p>\n

As I continue to pursue my passion to promote understanding amongst people of all faiths\u00a0and all traditions, I can\u2019t help but think about that very first day of high school, where I felt\u00a0misunderstood and scrutinized, just because I veiled my hair. I overcame, and I have\u00a0counteracted stigmas of Muslim women as I, with my hijab on, have served as a leader and\u00a0advocate for understanding on my campus and in my community. My hijab has given me the\u00a0courage to stand up for myself and for the traditions and faiths of others. Though it appears to be\u00a0simply a piece of square cloth, after being transformed by it, I can say that each and every thread\u00a0carries with it responsibility, empowerment, and an inner desire to excel.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The 2014 Women’s Leadership Awards allowed various women to share their stories with us. They were inspiring and we wanted to share them with you. 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