Date of Award
2020
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Textiles, Fashion Merchandising and Design
Department
Textiles, Fashion Merchandising and Design
First Advisor
Karl Aspelund
Abstract
As visual representatives of Islam, diasporic Muslim women in the U.S. and U.K. are at the forefront of changing the perception of Islam and the rise of modest fashion. The aim of this study is to analyze how female Muslim social media influencers living in non-Muslim majority areas use fashionable apparel on social media to negotiate cultural and religious demands in conjunction with exploration of personal identities. Social media posts from Instagram were coded using grounded theory. The findings were analyzed using Netnographic methods and Social Representation Theory (SRT) as the main theoretical framework. This study found that Muslim social media influencers are changing both the meaning and styling of the hijab to suite their personal needs and exemplify their identities. The identities of these influencers were found to be multifaceted and unique, but used dress to balance between cultures and religious expectations. The hijab was found to be less of a symbol of religious devotion, and more of a symbol of cultural heritage in a culturally diverse area whose narratives of Islam are in discussion.
Recommended Citation
Holshoe, Erika, "LIFTING THE VEIL: HIJBABI FASHION ON SOCIAL MEDIA" (2020). Open Access Master's Theses. Paper 1896.
https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/theses/1896
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