Covering and communication: The symbolism of dress among Muslim women

Abstract

The role of clothing as a means of nonverbal, symbolic communication within Islamic societies plays a significant part in defining social roles and controlling space in the public domain. The current situations in specific countries such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt document various attempts by young women to carve out a legitimate public space, to protect themselves from abuse, and to satisfy their cultures’ expectations. The reflections of Muslim women in the U.S. on the issue of Islamic dress, obtained through in‐depth interviews, present further insights on the role of veiling within the lives of individual Muslim women.