Larissa's Introduction and Response

My name is Larissa Stover and I'm from Prospect, Ohio. I'm nineteen years old and a freshman at The Ohio State University at Marion majoring in Agricultural Communication. I hope to someday work for a large agricultural business by promoting them to other farmers and businesses. I live with my Mother and Stepfather but I have two sisters, two stepsisters, a stepbrother, a sister-in-law, a brother-in-law, and two beautiful nieces. My wonderful family members are spread out all over the state of Ohio and even the United States. I am the baby of all my siblings; my family is my world. I love the Ohio State Buckeyes and I am proud to finally call myself one of the elite.

"None have been more daring than I. I've found wound my scarf into a turban, leaving my neck bare to the breeze. The woman in black is a government employee paid to police public morals. "Fix your scarf at once!" she snaps." This is a direct quote taken from the essay entitled "Shrouded in Contradiciton" by Gelareh Asayesh, I felt sad for the writer because she was stuck living a life that she did not choose or enjoy. She never wanted to wear the hijab which she was forced to wear by her family, fellow community members, and even government officials. Her rebelliousness against the sacred hijab and scarf struck me because it is hard to imagine a young woman brave enough to stand up to her own country and religion, especially in a country that does not tolerate such behavior from women. I thought it was important that she stood up and acted out so often in her life because it gave her the strength to come to the United States and make a life for herself where she is always able to be whoever she wants to be and she can wear whatever she feels like. The essay made me rethink the way the women are treated in countries which require them to wear the hijab. Even if they are scorching hot or just feel like showing their heads, they are not allowed because all the men have power over them and force them to continue wearing the thick clothing. Asayesh explains the clothing as being contradicting because sometimes she feels connected to her religion and where she comes from through the hijab, but at the same she does not enjoy because she knows her being forced to wear it and the way she is being treated is not how life is supposed to be. She has experienced freedom in the United States and her veil makes her realize how much is taken away from her back in her homeland of Iran.