Just as being a non-believer in some countries can have catastrophic consequences,i.e. Atheists in Saudia Arabia, Rohingya in Myanmar, EVERY culture has ways to keep women in their place. I don't think you can narrow this discussion to just Hijabs and western beauty norms. Whether enforced by law, family or local customs burqas, hijabs, honor killings are all anti-woman. Just as 3" heels, domestic violence/murder, how women are treated in porn, the nearly inconceivable level of violence and death prostitutes face are also anti-woman (and to a lesser extent anti-queer). I think comparing them is the wrong approach. I think they are all part of the same deep misogyny in almost every culture on this planet. The hijabs and burqas are just easier for us to recognize because to a western eye the misogyny is more obvious. Just as our cultural misogyny is harder for us to see simply because it is our 'norm'.

Great Question. I am struggling with this one. This is a excellent example of relativism. My guess would be that a very high percentage of America's would say the hi-jab. However the inverse would be true if you asked a population of people living in Iran. This question makes for a great philosophical question / conversation.

According to the Bible. in religion women have no choices, it is dictated that they are ALWAYS to give deference to men. In a beauty contest at least they choose to participate, even if the rules are demeaning, it is their own choice, and these rules are more likely to be changed.

You can always ignore the standard. That is why you are on this site.

Coverings for women is, by far, the most oppressive thing for women. The simple reason is that is most often involves extreme coercion. My late wife was from Iran. She hated visiting her family because of the coverings. It represented an extreme form of paternalism and religion (she was a life long atheist). Beauty pageants were also a problem bu at least one was not forced into this (forced being the operative word). Look up [maryamnamazie.com]. It might be an eye opener.

I think a hijab is much more oppressive because it is really a symbol of "ownership" of the woman rather than any internalisation of peer pressures.

While Hijab is promoted as a choice, it isn't in a lot of Islamic cultures. While the worst a woman can get in American beauty standards is insults, at least they won't be beaten, acid thrown, whipped, or even killed.

True, in the USA, the Hijab is not ENFORCED, but it IS elsewhere. Neither one of these is enforced in the USA, and as such, it's even if we're talking specifically about this country.

Im having a hard time understanding why this poll is so close. It seems obvious to me the answer is Hijab. In America we live in a free country, the level of which you care about beauty standards is your free choice to make. But I am male and there is a possibility Im just ignorant on this but Hijab seems obvious to me.

Both are imposed on the women in their culture. You could say the hijab is a choice, but their family and community would harass them if they didn't wear it. If women in America choose not to wear makeup, shave, etc, they are bullied and called ugly pigs. If there is coercion that would sway someone to conform, they don't really have the freedom to go against the standard. I still think the hijab is the more oppressive standard as it is a physical manifestation of a religious belief that men cannot control their lust over women, which is so so wrong.

Both are required to be accepted by the social community. You can't be killed for not conforming to American beauty standards, but you will be viewed as socially inept and subjected to jobs that do not require business casual attire. Therefore, a woman who doesn't conform to American beauty standards will have a lower socioeconomic status (for this reason alone, although there are many more). It takes 1 minute to put on a hijab. It takes 3 hours a day minimum effort of exercise, hair, make-up, facials, shaving, shopping, waxing, etc to conform to American beauty standards.

Wow, the votes are 50/50. Fascinating.
In my opinion, beauty standards are self imposed. Hijab is not.
Have yet to read about a woman being stoned for not wearing a skirt or lipstick.

I said American Beauty Standards and honestly, I don't know why. I have a real battle on my hands with feeling a lack of sympathy for women who wear the Hijab. It's admirably and unfair prejudice of mine. I just haven't figured out why when I see it I get so angry. I see it as an acknowledgement by Muslim women that they're inferior to their Muslim brothers and deserving of nothing. That just makes me want to have no sympathy and I really hate that about myself. I ask myself, is that really who I am?

Hijab, a garment forced upon women in certain areas of the Middle East whereby you’re thrown acid at your face (or worse) if you choose not to wear it, or seeing images of skinny women everywhere? Hmm, which one is worse? I suggegst we our moral priorities aligned.