Salam, this is actually a really messy situation. For context, im 21, became muslim at 16, but didn't practice Islam until about 19-20. I study far away from my family, and last August when I started wearing the hijab I knew this would be an issue but decided to wear it anyway. When I went to visit my family a couple times in the last year, I tried to cover my hair with hoodies and beanies, but sometimes I took it off completely because they were starting to notice and would get pissed. Even covering my hair in 0° weather with a scarf became a fight. They're white, they survived 911 and I grew up with this islamophobic, zionist rhetoric. My dad was in the NYPD so he was literally trained by the IDF. They're starting to accept that this isn't a phase, but they're not happy about it. They don't like that I've stopped drinking(i'm irish) and that I don't hang around the people I used to(because i don't do drugs or drink anymore and i can't be around people who still do). My mom followed my location to the masjid last summer before i became a full time hijabi, saw me leave the masjid wearing hijab and it was a huge fight. we got coffee and talked about it but she still doesn't like the idea of it. they have the same brain washing as a lot of people, that the hijab is forced, oppressive, and they can be really mean. i literally can't even drop friends off at the airport without them calling me and crying begging me not to hijack planes(bro i wish this was a joke but im being serious). i'm going to see them at the end of this month. can anyone who's been in a similar situation, whether you were born muslim or not, please help me out. i'm trying to be brave but i am so so so afraid. i've only got one year of college left, i don't want to be cut off, but im not willing to let go of my dignity and take it off to please them, even for a couple of hours.
u/Low_Pollution2471
Salam, this is actually a really messy situation. For context, im 21, became muslim at 16, but didn't practice Islam until about 19-20. I study far away from my family, and last August when I started wearing the hijab I knew this would be an issue but decided to wear it anyway. When I went to visit my family a couple times in the last year, I tried to cover my hair with hoodies and beanies, but sometimes I took it off completely because they were starting to notice and would get pissed. Even covering my hair in 0° weather with a scarf became a fight. They're white, they survived 911 and I grew up with this islamophobic, zionist rhetoric. My dad was in the NYPD so he was literally trained by the IDF. They're starting to accept that this isn't a phase, but they're not happy about it. They don't like that I've stopped drinking(i'm irish) and that I don't hang around the people I used to(because i don't do drugs or drink anymore and i can't be around people who still do). My mom followed my location to the masjid last summer before i became a full time hijabi, saw me leave the masjid wearing hijab and it was a huge fight. we got coffee and talked about it but she still doesn't like the idea of it. they have the same brain washing as a lot of people, that the hijab is forced, oppressive, and they can be really mean. i literally can't even drop friends off at the airport without them calling me and crying begging me not to hijack planes(bro i wish this was a joke but im being serious). i'm going to see them at the end of this month. can anyone who's been in a similar situation, whether you were born muslim or not, please help me out. i'm trying to be brave but i am so so so afraid. i've only got one year of college left, i don't want to be cut off, but im not willing to let go of my dignity and take it off to please them, even for a couple of hours.