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Brother Nesta I can overstand what the I is saying here. There is a lot about Islam that relates to Rastafari, and probably for that reason, I and other sistars on this site have mentioned before how we are sometimes mistaken to be Muslim.
About the Hijab in particular, I know that this is a choice for most Muslim womban. For some it's not, and this we all know. We also know that there are groups or individuals within all religions that practice brutality against their own, for all sorts of non compliance. So I think most of us realize that Islam is oppressive only as much as other religions are.
For I as a Rastawomban, wearing modest clothing is my own choice, proudly and honorably so. Through experience I know that modesty does earn respect and at the same time it does not encourage negative attention. So I am very happy to cover my hair and body in public.
I have been thinking about another aspect of this headcovering practice.. more than just a visible protection. We know that sweat contains pheromones, which are like "behavior-modifying agents" to others of the same species, and we also know that the head is where most heat escapes the body, therefore also probably the most sweat. This is just my own reasoning, not sure if it's true. But if it is, then a significant amount of pheromones escapes the body through the sweat glands on the scalp. To cover this portion of the body, and other parts also, limits the amount of pheromones reaching the other's olfactory system. This can prevent us womban from sending out signals of sexual readiness, signals of fear, or other signals moderated by pheromones. Simply put, covering is a way to keep what is happening inside our bodies private, on a chemical level. A womban can cover herself from neck to ankle, but if her head is exposed, she can still be sending out extreme chemical signals of ovulation to all men she passes, attracting their sexual attention without their own control. This thinking has become my main reason, aside from simply keeping the locks clean, for wearing headcoverings. It also may explain why most religions, not only Islam but also Judaism and orthodox Christianity, and other sects of Christianity such as Mennonite, and also Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism, and so many more include headcovering for either women or both women and men.
As I said there's a lot Rastafari shares in common with Islam.. There's also a lot about Rastafari that does not relate to Islam, for example Ital eating which differs drastically from Halal. So I for one am proud to be Rasta and live up in the Ites, freely choosing not according to any set of rules but according to I&I own intuition what is the best Livity for I.
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