We’ve all heard them: the whispers, the headlines, the sideways glances. There’s no shortage of myths and misjudgments when it comes to hijabi women. Whether it’s the assumption that we’re oppressed, uneducated, or lacking power, the same tired narrative keeps being told. But let’s be clear: those narratives aren’t written by us, they’re written about us. And they couldn’t be more wrong.

The idea that Muslim women are voiceless victims stuck in some outdated tradition is not only false, it’s insulting. It ignores our strength, our achievements, and the fact that we are the ones making our choices. It’s time to challenge these misconceptions and reintroduce the world to who we really are.

Myth #1: We’re oppressed.

Truth: Autonomy looks different for everyone. Choosing to wear a hijab, or not, is a decision many of us make thoughtfully, powerfully, and on our own terms. It's not about giving up freedom. It's about exercising it. True oppression is being told what we must look like to be accepted, valued, or included.

Myth #2: We’re all the same.

Truth: We are as diverse as any other group of women. We come from different countries, cultures, and walks of life. Some of us wear hijab, some don’t. Some are religious, some spiritual, some figuring it out. We are writers, scientists, dancers, coders, lawyers, teachers, dreamers, fighters. Don’t flatten us into one stereotype when we all come from such rich heritages.

Myth #3: Hijab is a sign of extremism.

Truth: Wearing hijab doesn't mean we reject the modern world, it means we navigate it on our terms. We engage, contribute, and lead in our communities, careers, and causes. The hijab doesn’t isolate us from society. It challenges society to rethink its assumptions.

Myth #4: We need saving.

Truth: We don’t need liberation from our identities, we need liberation from your misconceptions. We’re not looking for rescue. We’re looking to be recognized for who we are, not who you imagine us to be. Empowerment isn't one-size-fits-all, and it certainly doesn't come from being forced to fit someone else's mold.

Myth #5: Modesty equals shame.

Truth: There’s nothing shameful about choosing how to present yourself. Modesty, for many of us, isn’t about hiding, it’s about prioritizing. It’s about choosing to be seen in a world that often objectifies, minimizes, or distorts us. We don’t cover because we’re ashamed of our beauty, we cover because we want to be known beyond it.

So let’s get this straight:
We are not weak.
We are not repressed.
We are not voiceless.

We are thoughtful, bold, and complex.
We are reclaiming our narratives.
We are pushing back against the expectations of a society that tries to define us before even knowing our names.

See Muslim women for who we are, not who you’ve been told we are. Because we are so much more than a myth.