Muslim Women and Hijabs: Culture and Discrimination

Culture and Discrimination: Muslim Women and Hijabs

Were the actions of the bank appropriate or inappropriate?

The bank denied Magda their services because she refused to remove her headgear. Although this may seem like simple a scenario to judge, the reasons for the actions of both Magda and the bank are justified. As a Muslim woman, Magda believes her burqa is a representation of her modesty and dignity and she feels she should not be denied services just because of the way she dresses. Neusner (2009) explains that to majority of Muslims, Islam is a way of life and they strive to express their faith in their private as well as their public lives. However, banks have off late adopted policies where headgears, scarves and sometimes even sunglasses are not allowed in their banking halls. In light of numerous robberies carried out by people disguised in burqas and hijabs, these policies were put in place for security purposes and they are meant to ensure all individuals are identifiable to security and surveillance cameras. So, who is to blame? Should Magda find a local bank that does not have an issue with headgear, or should the banks adjusts their policies and deal with crime in another way?

Though the intentions of the bank are genuine, their actions are plain discriminatory. It was inappropriate for the bank to deny Magda service and send her away due to her headgear, since it only shows the insensitivity of the bank to the same community they claim to serve. According to Samover, Porter and McDaniel (2009), in an area with diverse cultures, it is essential to find a middle ground in dealing with issues that may arise, which will be flexible and accommodative of all the interested parties. Clients like Magda cannot be expected to accept humiliation and embarrassment in support of a policy that requires them to abandon their religious beliefs. First the bank should explain the policies to the customers and make sure they are aware of the specific items banned. Banks can also choose not to turn away customers; rather they can assign clients, who cannot remove their head dresses due to personal reasons, specific tellers where they can be scrutinized and monitored more intensely. Another alternative would be to segment a particular area in the banking hall where customers who are not willing to part with the banned items can be searched thoroughly before they advance with their banking activities.

It is critical to come up with a solution that would accommodate people like Magda, and bank policies both parties have to compromise since both claims involved are justified and the intentions genuine. It would be deemed discriminatory for a bank to implement policies that will victimize one religion more than the others. To avoid this, the bank should take care not to offend clients and should encourage employees to be good judges of character and be respectful and diligent in their handling of clients.

Legal aspects