(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) The veils women wear across Oman have become the subject of a study being carried out at Sohar University. The study is looking into the various ways women use the veil and their traditional and religious significance.
Dr Sameera Ahmed, assistant professor at Sohar University and principal investigator in this project said, ''We are interested in the attitudes and experiences of Omani women regarding the hijab and burqa. The research aims to understand the cultural, traditional and religious significance of the practice and how it varies in different areas and among women of different ages.''
Dr Sameera said Omani women have been forthcoming in providing information, which has been a big plus for the team conducting the study. However, getting information from women over 50 was a little difficult, she said, adding that inputs from these women would be of great value. This group could give us rich information on past and present trends, and make forecasts about the future.''
The study titled 'Veiling practices and their meanings in the Sultanate of Oman', is being funded by The Research Council, and ten Omani research assistants are part of it. This project has stemmed from an earlier research on Omani women's dress patterns across the country.
As part of the new survey, women are asked why they wear the hijab (headscarf) or the niqab (face veil) or the burqa, the changes they have seen in veiling practices across regions and how important is a veil to them.
On the importance of the project, Dr Sameera said, ''Arab cultures have always had strong and vibrant histories and this project is about continuing this tradition of recording the trends and changes we see around us.
''We can compare the changes in practices of veiling to similar changes across the world in dress and culture and ask the question – why
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