The Role of Important Values and Predominant Identity in the Dress Practices of Female Muslim Students Attending a South African University

Abstract

This study explores the role of important values and predominant identity in the dress practices of female Muslim students attending a university in South Africa. Data were collected through a selfadministered questionnaire using a purposive convenience sample of 200 female Muslim students. A cluster analysis was used to divide participants into groups based on their dress practices. The sample could be divided into two groups: those who follow less modest and those who follow more modest dress practices. An independent t-test was calculated to determine if there was a significant difference between the important values and predominant identity of the less modest and more modest groups. The results revealed differences in the significance of certain values and predominant identity. The more modest group placed more importance on religious values, while the less modest group attributed more importance to social values than the more modest group. For the more modest group their Muslim identity was more predominant than for the less modest group. Despite these differences, both groups tended to communicate a hybrid identity, as aspects of Islamic and Western thought and behavior were synthesized in each individual's dress practice. The study offers benefits to scholars interested in the social-cultural aspects of clothing by showing how people manipulate their appearances and cultural forms to create a specific reality and to adapt to multicultural environments (e.g. campuses).

Malaysian’s Young Consumer Preferences of Hijab

“…In making purchase decision for clothes including hijab, what their friends say seems to be more reliable as compared to their family members. This is further supported by the study of (Albrecht, Jacobs, Retief and Adamski, 2015) who revealed that purchasing of clothes may be influenced by peers.…”

“…From a different perspective, past studies such as by Albrecht, Jacobs, Retief and Adamski (2015) focused on young consumer preferences of Muslim dress where in general, the subject on hijab is slightly touched, with a great concern on cross culture comparison between Western and Islamic beliefs that influenced the preferences of female Muslim dress. In another study, the study of Shah and Tabassum (2015) covers on Malaysia, but specifically focus on religious affiliation among women academicians in Malaysia's universities, thus differ from the current study in this paper.…”

“…Noting that these respondents are young consumers, in the age range of 20 to 25 years old, who are still studying and do not have permanent income, it is of no surprise when their main concern in selection of hijab brand is purely based on affordability, heavy material, beautiful and suits with their apparel attire. This may be due to the nature of the respondents who are students in a university that requires them to wear hijab that is comfortable and practical for their daily student's activities (Albrecht, Jacobs, Retief & Adamski, 2015).…”

Electoral Preferences Among Multiethnic Voters in Africa

“…9 While mono-ethnics may strategically misrepresent their identities too, the proclivity to do so may be especially pronounced among multi-ethnics, for whom "passing" as a member of multiple ethnic groups may be easier. Finally, multi-ethnics may alter their expressed identities to signal belonging to the locally-dominant ethnic community out of a desire to fit in and gain acceptance, even if they do not strongly identify with the dominant local group (Nagel, 1994;Albrecht et al, 2015 Davenport (2016aDavenport ( , 2018 proposes that children of bi-racial families come to adopt, through family socialization, a progressive orientation toward the place of race and ethnicity in society and politics. Bi-racial couples may also come into conflict with societal prejudices by virtue of being in mixed marriages, experiences that could lead to the rejection of prejudicial views that are then transmitted to children (Davenport, 2016a(Davenport, , 2018.…”

“…9 Although mono-ethnics may strategically misrepresent their identities too, the proclivity to do so may be especially pronounced among multiethnics, for whom “passing” as a member of multiple ethnic groups may be easier. Finally, multiethnics may alter their expressed identities to signal belonging to the locally dominant ethnic community out of a desire to fit in and gain acceptance, even if they do not strongly identify with the dominant local group (Albrecht et al, 2015; Nagel, 1994).…”