VEILED WOMAN IN CAIRO (2002-2004)
Because of increasing globalisation, symbols spread quickly to all corners of the world, where they are interpreted in various manners. For instance, in the West the Islamic headscarf often stands for oppression and backwardness, while in the Arab world the scarf is a symbol of religious devotion. But even among Arabs the meaning of the headscarf is not unambiguous. Many older women experience its rejection as a sign of active participation in modern society, while many younger women wear the scarf – certainly after September 11 – as a symbol of mutual solidarity.
