As soon as election results started to swing in Donald Trump’s favor last night, the fear among people of color, the LGBTQ community, and women was palpable on social media. One group that expressed grave concern over being the target of hate crimes were Muslim women, who wear their label of “other” around their heads or over their bodies.
Women began tweeting about how their mothers, even the devoutly religious, warned them not to wear the hijab or burkas in public.
… I'm in tears pic.twitter.com/MIVtcS4mT5
— Jails✨ (@JailaAmari) November 9, 2016
https://twitter.com/halimahello/status/796208673181802496
https://twitter.com/rnagnusbane/status/796331559183941633
Many feel such fear is warranted after Trump said he planned to ban all Muslims from entering the country, after the hate crimes and racial profiling targeted at Muslims and Arab-Americans after 9-11, and after the increase in religious hate crimes in the U.K. in the wake of Brexit.
Other people are saying they will proudly wear the hijab and not let fear overtake their faith and personhood.
https://twitter.com/Chimmyq/status/796234972805873664
https://twitter.com/mrsridhabieber/status/796368962028244992
https://twitter.com/shylee401/status/796253342674677760
And while others are telling women not to give in and keep wearing the hijab, in the end, only the individual knows what will make her feel safe.
https://twitter.com/herjamila/status/796287946173386752