It’s not about the veil; it’s about respect

I wear the veil, and in my country many girls wear veils too, we are the biggest Muslim country.

I thought wearing the veil will always help me keep my dignity, or it’s kinda guaranteed to make myself safe. At least it will keep the stereotype that i am a “good girl” and “don’t messed up with me.”

But it was changed when i was in my high school.

Firstly, it happened when i was about go home, and there are some guys called at me: “Girl”.. I was ignoring them until they repeated many times, and said that i am a bitch because i was ignoring them.

I was pissed off, and then came to them and said, “What’s matter boys? You all SHOULD not talk to me that way, didn’t this veil prove you that i aint a slut?”

That was just the beginning. When i was in my first year of college, everyday i took the train. Then came one day, a stalker followed me from station until i took my train. In the train, he was standing behind me. And i’ve got a sexual harassment, because the train was very crowded, maybe no one notice that, he grabbed my ass, though i am wearing veil that time..

It’s kinda crazy, man sometimes doing crazy things because they often think that we, woman is weak and a second-class..

It actually wasn’t about wearing a veil or not. Any woman in this world SHOULD be RESPECTED, whoever they are..

– Movi Riana

Location: Bogor, Indonesia

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