Dress Practices of Muslim Women : A Perspective on the Identity of Faith and Beauty in the Modern Environment

Abstract

This paper studied Islamic culture, including religious identity, the identity of Muslim women in Thailand through dress practices; the relation between dress practices and religion principles; dress practices in the past and present as well as following Islamic doctrinal interpretation; Islamic views of beauty; and Muslim identity in a changing world.

Social and cultural changes have impacted Muslim women’s dress practices through diverse attitudes about religious law, influencing lifestyles. However, Muslim women express constancy in Islamic identity through lifestyle and dress practices. To adapt to societal guidelines, Muslim women use belief in Islamic doctrine as bywords. Dressing to follow doctrine remains essential to the Islamic way of life, as a sign of respect, appropriateness, and awareness. Muslim women’s dress practices in modern times adapted to suit modern lifestyles, yet retained the distinct identity of Muslim women.

Documentary research of the literature indicated that cultural diversity affected dress practices of modern Muslim women, who still value faith, its identity expressed by dress practices, and the significance of transmitting religion principles across generations.