International Journal of Education and Social Science (IJESS)

This paper focuses on feminism and the veiling phenomenon of Muslim women. A distinct contribution of the paper to the current literature is the focus on the micro level analysis to explain why Muslim women wear the veil. After a careful and critical examination of the cultural, religious, feminist and individual dimensions of veiling of the Muslim women, the following conclusion is drawn: Although the individual level explanation is closely tied to the cultural and religious explanations, the micro level must, at least be given credit for its ability to provide an alternative explanation which recognizes human beings, such as Muslim women, as critical, reflective thinkers capable of making decisions and choices, such as wearing the veil, based on the deliberate use of their intellect.