'Walk a Mile in Her Hijab' Exposes Students to Muslim Faith at Vernon Hills High School

VERNON HILLS, IL - The Muslim Student Association at Vernon Hills High School last week hosted a “Walk a Mile in Her Hijab” event where non-Muslim female students would work around the school wearing the traditional Muslim cover to better understand the Muslim faith.

“This event is to hopefully denounce negative stereotypes,” said Yasmeen Abdallah, president of the organization. “You can’t really understand or judge a person and their beliefs until you understand why they do it and what it’s like for them to do what they’re doing.”

Six of the 10 members of the organization spent the morning placing hijabs on 17 non-Muslim women who wore them throughout the day, according to the Daily Herald. When asked about them during the day, the non-Muslims who participated discussed the meaning behind the hijab, a head covering worn by Muslim girls and women as a form of modesty, and other facets of the Muslim religion.

The event was planned last year.

Most of the reaction at school was positive, although one unknown male student had asked one non-Muslim wearing the hijab to take it off at one point.

“I think it is a difficult time to be a Muslim student in our high school, in our community, and in America,” said Principal Jon Guillaume. “I think this is an opportunity for our kids to embrace the Muslim community within the school. For other kids outside of this organization, to understanding what it’s like for these girls to walk through our halls in this garment in a way that stands out from other kids. So, I’m proud of them.”

The event and Daily Herald story turned up as a “trending” item Monday on Facebook pages throughout Chicagoland. The reaction by those who discussed the school group’s idea was mixed.

“I’m glad the school supported this event and I hope that it gave a lot of the students an opportunity to ask questions, find common ground, and build solidarity through diversity,” one woman wrote.

But others questioned why a religious activity would be allowed in a public school.

“Why are Muslims allowed a religious organization in a public school?” one man asked. “No other religion is allowed to do this!”

more via the Daily Herald