“Wearing the hijab can make dating harder because people will make assumptions about your sexual experience, what sort of relationship you’re looking for, and even what type of person you are,” says Edil, 19. “I think people do see me differently when I wear it, but not in a completely negative way.”
The traditions of Islam state that a woman is not supposed to have any sort of sexual relations until she is married. However, in contemporary times, many Muslim women say they do not follow these strict guidelines though the precedent still shapes the way many women feel about relationships. Glamour magazine makes the point that one of the biggest misconceptions about Muslim women who wear the hijab are that “while many do choose to abstain from sex, it doesn’t mean they aren’t exploring their sexuality. Or dating. Or falling in love.”
The idea that modesty somehow means that a Muslim woman is not looking for intimacy is frustrating for many Muslim women. “No, I do not have sex, but of course I do love,” says Miriam, 27. “That’s what I want people to know at the end of the day, that Muslim women love.”
Suha, 26, says that wearing the hijab forces a more serious take on relationships. “You kind of weed out the nonsense. It deters men whose intention is to play around. It also allows a deeper connection to develop between potential mates without the ramifications of physical sex.”
