A few weeks ago, I ran the Rock 'n Sole Run half marathon in Milwaukee on the Summerfest festival grounds. It’s a fun run to do, but a HOT one. I did a different distance last year, and both years were scalding hot. In 2016, I wore shorts and a tiny tank top, and learned my lesson–it’s too hot for a shirt, no matter how thin. This year I wore shorts and a sports bra, and I was still sweating profusely.

During the race, to my absolute shock, my dad and I passed a woman wearing all black. She had on full length sleeves, full length leggings, a running skirt over the leggings, and a hijab. As I passed her, I tapped her on the shoulder and said, “You are a badass! Congrats in running this far in this heat while wearing that outfit–I give you all the props in the world!” She smiled and said she liked my outfit as well, and we both kept on running.

In this world, there are way too many people who outwardly spread hate and prejudice towards other people for what they wear and what they choose to believe. There are others who may not hate these groups but still judge them or make them into stereotypes. Yet others still understand these groups and are educated on different types of people, but choose to stay silent and not make a difference. I don’t want to be one of those people, and I want to teach other people to not act like that as well.

As someone who has learned a lot about different religions and the ways gender works into them (I took a semester long gender and religion course about a year ago and it completely changed what I thought I knew about most religions), I refuse to be someone who is silent about what I know. I’m aware how scary it must be to wear a hijab to a public place, like a run, where many women are publically harassed for what they choose to wear. I think she is so brave every day for representing her religion even though she’s aware of how much shit she’s going to get for it.

Something a lot of people do not know about Muslim women today is that yes, in some countries, these women are controlled by their husbands/fathers still, and are forced to wear the hijab. But in many free countries like America, women choose whether they want to wear the hijab or not. No one tells them they have to, and no one tells them they can’t. You can follow Islam and not wear one, and you can wear one and be just as religious. In fact, something many people don’t know is that you can even wear one and still be a feminist.

The hijab used to symbolize things it no longer does. It means something different to each woman who chooses (yes, chooses) to wear one. Some reasons I have heard for wearing one is to feel more connected to Allah and the overall religion, to continue tradition, and even to ward off men and be more focused on studies, careers, etc. There were many interviews done with women who chose to wear the hijab for the last reason, and they all said they were catcalled less, sexually harassed at work less, and gained many other benefits when wearing the hijab, as men treated them differently when wearing it.

Clearly, the hijab can be worn for many different reasons. It is not un-feminist of someone to wear one, and it is not un-feminist for someone to abstain. It is perfectly acceptable for a Muslim woman to wear one, and it is also perfectly acceptable for them to not. They get to make these choices for themselves. I’ll never know why the woman I saw chose to follow with the traditional dress as she ran that race, but I do know that I feel good about telling her how much I respect her for it. Choosing to be a progressive woman by exercising how she wants and not giving up her religion is courageous and strong. If someone insults Muslim men for “making” women wear the hijab or stereotype Muslim women for “doing whatever their fathers want”, make sure to let them know they’re wrong. These women are courageous and strong, and they, like all women, can wear whatever the hell they want.