Sporty hijabs encourage girls to hit the field
PORTLAND, MAINE Muslim student athletes at one U.S. high school no longer have to be slowed down by worries that their head scarves might fall off.
Deering High School in Portland, Maine, is providing sport hijabs aiming to make Muslim girls comfortable — and boosting their participation in sports. The lightweight scarves stay put and are less bulky than other hijabs, garments that cover the hair and are worn by many Muslim women to express their faith.
“We’re more confident on the field,” said junior lacrosse player Fadumo Adan. “This one doesn’t fall off.”
Tennis co-captains Liva Pierce and Anaise Manikunda raised more than $800 online to buy the sporty hijabs for their Muslim teammates after the school’s athletic director learned of the product. They solicited private donations to avoid criticism for using taxpayer funds on religious apparel, and ended up with enough to outfit all teams, including lacrosse, soccer, volleyball, softball, field hockey and track.
The high school is believed to be the first in the U.S. to provide hijabs for Muslim athletes, as opposed to students providing their own head scarves, said Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
The move is part of a trend globally of more Muslim women finding ways to play sports while wearing hijabs. Some Muslim countries, like Saudi Arabia, impose severe limitations on women engaging in sports, while cultural sensitivities and family opposition can also pose hurdles.
The International Basketball Federation and the international soccer organization FIFA lifted bans on head coverings in recent years, and Ibtihaj Muhammad became the first American to compete at the Olympics while wearing a hijab when she won a bronze medal in fencing at the 2016 Rio Games.
Muslim students at Deering said they were grateful for the support at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump has been pushing to ban travel from several Muslim countries.
Israa Enan, a senior who was born in Iraq, said she stayed off the school’s tennis team because her parents had concerns about the uniform and lack of hijab.
“I wished I was one of these girls who wear the hijabs and play with it, but it’s OK,” Enan said. “I’m too late now.”
The tennis co-captains are not Muslim, but Pierce said there was a “duh!” moment when she discussed the idea with Melanie Craig, the athletic director.
“This makes so much sense. If there’s something that we can do to make our teammates feel more comfortable, then why not just do it?” Pierce said.
Her Muslim teammates appreciated the effort.
“There are some people who actually care, respect and love others, and they are actually accepting of others, which makes me really happy,” said sophomore tennis team member Tabarek Kadhim, who moved to Maine four years ago from Jordan.
Nike announced last month it’ll begin marketing a sport hijab next year. But Craig didn’t wait, finding a sport hijab manufactured by Asiya, a company that raised more than US$39,000 in November to expand beyond selling in Minnesota.
If there’s something we can do to make our teammates feel more comfortable, then why not just do it?