THE VEIL AND MODERNITY The Case of Tunisia

Abstract

This essay explores the sociopolitical context of veiling in Tunisia and critiques Tunisia's law against wearing the veil in state schools and government offices. It expounds how the justification for the ban has been influenced by Tunisia's colonial history, echoing a French Weltanschauung and notion of modernity. Inspired by this 'colonial modernity', the Tunisian elite view veiling as backward and oppressive, and the act of unveiling as a symbol of Tunisia's yearning to 'modernize'. However, the essay explains how the rise of veiling - especially the hijab- constitutes a visible challenge to how the nation is envisioned.