Muslim women who wear headscarves face workplace discrimination in US

Washington, Sept 29 (ANI): A new study has found that Muslim women who wear headscarves face workplace discrimination in the US.

Professor Sonia Ghumman from the University of Hawaii at Manoa Shidler College of Business has completed an intensive marketing research on the effects of Muslim women who wear hijabs (head scarves) in the U.S.

Ghumman's research examined the expectations that women who wear hijabs have regarding their employment opportunities.

"We surveyed 219 American Muslim women on their job seeking experience," said Ghumman.

"The findings reveal that Hijabis are not only aware of their stigma of being Muslim, but also expect to be treated differently in the workplace as a result of this stigma," she said.

The survey found 30 percent of women who wear hijabs were concerned about applying for work, 88 percent said they were not willing to take off their hijabs when applying for work.

63 percent said they were aware of incidences where women wearing hijabs were refused work, and 22 percent said they were personally denied work because of their attire.

According to Ghumman, Muslim women wear the hijab as a religious requirement and expression of their Muslim identity.

Yet, many Muslim women feel they are stereotyped as unprofessional, archaic, and even as a terrorist.

According to a report by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, there was a 153 percent increase in workplace discrimination claims by Muslims after the 9/11 attack in New York City. (ANI)