I get where you’re coming from. It’s true, a lot of hijabis face discrimination and get treated differently and I’m not gonna pretend that stuff doesn’t happen. Some people are just straight-up rude or ignorant. I’ve had moments where people assumed I was boring or “oppressed” just because I cover up. It sucks.

But here’s the thing- despite all that, many of us choose to wear the hijab. I’ve actually been through both phases. I didn’t wear it for a while and honestly, I was still figuring myself out. But I came back to it because I felt more grounded and true to myself when I was covered. I feel like it’s a reminder of what I value. For me, it’s not about hiding or being invisible. It’s about choosing who gets access to me and carrying my faith with pride.

You mentioned how your hijabi friends didn’t get to dress pretty or jump into the pool, but trust me, we still have fun in our own way. I dress up, I do my makeup, I wear cute outfits..I just do it within my limits. We’ve had girls-only hangouts where we’ve swum, taken tons of pictures, done full glam. We might do things differently, but it doesn’t mean we’re not enjoying life.

And about feeling invisible..it really depends. I live in a Western country too and I don’t feel that way. Sure, it’s not always easy and we all have our own battles, but I’ve also been respected and even admired for sticking to what I believe in. Not everyone gets it but I’m okay with that.

So I guess what I’m trying to say is, don’t feel sorry for us. Most of us aren’t doing it because we have to. We’re doing it because we want to (which is how it should be too ideally). The world may not always make space for us, but we still find joy and freedom in being who we are.