There are a variety of fanatics and supporters of
different causes on Hamilton's campus. Avid fans come together to watch soccer
games and people proudly sport LGBTQ alliance stickers on their Nalgenes.
Hamilton students are often proud to support their unique affiliations and
"groups. But still, individuals are apprehensive to publicly display their
religions or faiths through dress.
Shabana Mir acknowledges how religious attire or
symbols can lead people to preconceived conclusions: a "[hijab]...has these
connotations for American people...maybe terrorist-related things." A
dictionary definition of the word hijab solely indicates a head covering worn
by some Muslim women; there is nothing about terrorism or oppression. As Alison
Lurie writes, these ideas come about through "the language of dress",
where upon first sight individuals "register the information
unconsciously" about someone's appearance and form associations about the
type of dress and the consequential type of person.
As a Catholic on this campus, I often find unreceptive sentiments when
confronted over my religion. I think peers have formed negative associations
between Catholicism and pressing social rights issues such as gay and female
reproductive rights. I am made conscious of these ill-assuming views when I
wear a cross around my neck. Students can be quick to assume one-dimensional
facets of religion to be true and the same for everyone without any real acknowledgment of the individual.
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