Discourses of being a Muslim woman in contemporary Hungary and the hijab paradox

Coping strategies among an intersectional group

“…In this study, some participants referred to the solidarity within the Muslim community as a way to cope with external negativities and also a feature that attracts the attention of non-Muslims, even leading to their conversion. However, this solidarity can be an 'imagined one' rather than a practised one (Aytar & Bodor, 2019). Solidarity is often premised on group favouritism and an individual's conformity with the majority beliefs and practises.…”

“…Research data indicates that some Muslim women in Hungary feel that they are targets of unwanted attention or disturbing actions of host country members, and the members of their own-group (Aytar & Bodor, 2019). In that earlier study, we relied on interview extracts on the vicissitudes of wearing and not wearing a hijab and participant observation data.…”

“…In an earlier study (Aytar & Bodor, 2019) we focused on the accounts of some converts, non-hijabi participants (particularly those who gave up hijab willingly), and participants who have an individualised way of practicing Islam that conflicts from time to time with traditionalist and conservative Islamic practice. Considering their accounts, it seems the way non-conservative practising Muslims and non-hijabi Muslim women benefit from the solidarity is not equivalent with traditionalist and conservative hijabi Muslims' experience (Aytar & Bodor, 2019). The solidarity level depends on the group favouritism of each actor and their conformity with the beliefs and practices of the majority.…”

A Glance to the Lives of Muslim Women in Hungary. One Community and Multiple Identities: Immigrant, Hungarian, Convert, Hijabi, Non-Hijabi

“…Nevertheless, even in this situation, it is the hijab that draws attention, and not the likewise visible, racially foreign "Chinese looking" and culturally deviant "having dyed green hair." This incident dramatically emphasizes the interviewee's experience of being very different from the members of the host community (Aytar and Bodor, 2019).…”

“…This current research suggests that the hijab, in this context, becomes a challenge in the actors` relation with outgroup members by conflicting with the norms of the Hungarian society and becomes a paradox with the essential religious reasoning behind the hijab, being modest. An earlier paper has been written by me and Bodor that analyzes the previous findings on this subject (Aytar and Bodor, 2019), here a broader and finalized version of analysis will be introduced.…”