Firstly, I should recall which ethnic or cultural groups have a tradition of women wearing veils. The first thing that comes to mind is Islam, as many Muslim women wear headscarves or veils, such as hijab, niqab, burka, etc. But Islam is widely distributed, and different regions may have different customs, such as the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, etc. However, Muslims are not the only group, and other religions or cultures may also have similar traditions.
For example, in certain regions of India, besides Muslims, there may be women from other religions or ethnic groups who wear veils. For example, in some Hindu communities in Rajasthan, women use saris to cover their heads in public places. But is this considered a veil? Confirmation may be required. In addition, some denominations of Judaism, such as Orthodox Judaism, require married women to wear headscarves or wigs, but these are headscarves rather than veils and may not count. The nun headscarf in Christianity is also a similar situation, but users may be more concerned about ordinary women rather than religious figures.
In addition, nomadic tribes in Africa, such as the Tuareg people, may wear veils for men and not for women, but here the user is asking about women, so it may not be relevant. However, confirmation is required. Do the Berbers also have similar traditions?
Then, ethnic minorities in China, such as Uyghurs, Hui and other Muslim ethnic groups, have a habit of wearing headscarves among women, which may belong to a type of veil. The same applies to the Salar and Dongxiang ethnic groups. We need to confirm the names and distribution of these ethnic groups.
Next, in terms of global distribution, Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, North Africa such as Egypt and Morocco, South Asia such as Pakistan and Afghanistan, Southeast Asia such as Indonesia and Malaysia all have Muslim populations, and women may wear different forms of veils. In addition, West African countries such as Nigeria and Niger may also have related customs. Muslim immigrant communities in Europe, such as France and the UK, also have women wearing veils, but this may involve legal restrictions.
In addition, in some regions of India, besides Muslims, Hinduism or Sikhism may also have headscarf customs, but it is necessary to distinguish between headscarves and veils. Sikh men wear headscarves, and women may also wear them, but they may not count as veils.
Also, in some ancient cultures, such as ancient Greece and Persia, women may have had a tradition of covering their faces, but does it still exist in modern times? Perhaps it is mainly related to religion now.
We need to consider different forms of veils, some covering hair, some covering the face, some only exposing the eyes, or even covering the entire face. For example, Burka is a full body robe, while Hijab is just a headscarf. Users may want to know the ethnicity and region corresponding to different forms of veils.
It may be necessary to answer separately, organizing by region or religion, such as the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, etc., and then discussing the ethnic groups and specific customs within each region. At the same time, it should be noted that different ethnic groups within the same region may have different practices, such as differences between Pashtuns and Tajiks in Afghanistan.
In addition, the influence of laws and social norms, such as Iran and Saudi Arabia’s mandatory dress code requirements for women, may be more lenient in other countries. This may also lead to different customs of the same ethnic group in different countries.
Also, do some non Muslim ethnic groups have similar traditions? For example, certain Christian communities in Ethiopia or Jewish communities in Yemen? Need to verify.
To sum up, the structure of the answer may be divided by religion first, then by region, and then by specific ethnicity, while mentioning different types of veils and the cultural, religious, or legal factors behind them. It is necessary to ensure coverage of major regions and ethnic groups, while pointing out differences and exceptions.
The tradition of women wearing veils is reflected in multiple ethnic and cultural groups around the world, with different forms, functions, and cultural or religious meanings behind them. The following is a summary of the distribution of major ethnic groups, regions, and their related backgrounds:
1、 Islamic cultural sphere
- Middle East and North Africa
Arab Nation
Regions: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Yemen, Oman, etc.
Customs: Women wear Niqab (veil covering, only revealing eyes) or Burqa (full body robe with mesh around the eyes). Saudi Arabia once required women to wear burqas in public places, but in recent years, the policy has gradually relaxed.
Religious background: Related to the interpretation of female “Awrah” in Islamic law (Sharia), but there are differences among different denominations.
Berber people
Regions: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and other North African countries.
Customs: Some Berber women wear headscarves (such as hijab), but the traditional veil is not as strict as Arab ethnic groups and is more reflected as a regional cultural symbol. - South Asia and Central Asia
Pashtun people
Region: Afghanistan, northwestern Pakistan.
Customs: Women often wear burqas, which became mandatory attire under Taliban rule, symbolizing conservative tribal culture and religious norms.
Uzbek and Tajik ethnic groups
Region: Uzbekistan, Tajikistan.
Customs: Some women wear headscarves or light gauze, and in areas less affected by the secularization policies of the Soviet era, more traditions are preserved. - West Africa and the Sahel region
Hausa, Fulani
Regions: Nigeria, Niger, Mali, etc.
Customs: Muslim women use Hijab or headscarves to cover their hair, with the veil being less common and more commonly used as a symbol of religious identity. - Southeast Asia
malay
Region: Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei.
Customs: Tudung is commonly worn in urban areas, while veils may appear in rural or conservative areas. Due to the influence of the Islamic revival movement, the coverage rate has increased in recent years.
2、 Non Islamic cultural sphere - Indian subcontinent
Rajput people in Rajasthan
Customs: Hindu women use sari edges to cover their faces (Ghoonghat), symbolizing respect for elders or husbands, and not religious coercion.
Parsi people (fire worshipers)
Historical background: In ancient Persia, there was a tradition of women covering their faces, but in modern times it has been diluted and only the light gauze decorations used in weddings and other ceremonies are preserved. - Mediterranean and Europe
Ancient Greek and Roman Traditions
Historical background: In ancient Greece and Rome, noblewomen used shawls to cover their faces, symbolizing chastity and social status, which has disappeared in modern times.
Mantilla, Spain
Customs: Catholic women use lace headbands in religious ceremonies, such as Easter parades, which are now mostly cultural symbols. - East Africa
Christian communities in Ethiopia
Customs: Some women use white gauze (Shash) to wrap their heads during church services, symbolizing piety and not mandatory in daily life.
3、 Chinese ethnic minorities
Uyghur, Hui, Kazakh, etc
Regions: Xinjiang, Gansu, Ningxia, etc.
Customs: Influenced by Islam, women wear headscarves (such as the Uyghur Yark), but full face veils are less common. In recent years, influenced by religious conservatism, the use of veils has increased in some regions.
4、 Disputes and Legal Limitations
Europe: France, Belgium and other countries prohibit the wearing of full face veils (such as niqab) in public places, believing it violates secularist principles.
Iran and Afghanistan: Veil policy fluctuates with regime change, from mandatory (Taliban) to partially relaxed (selective wearing among urban youth in Iran).
Summary Table
Regional/Ethnic Veil Type Cultural/Religious Background
The Interpretation of Women’s Clothing in the Islamic Law of Nikab and Burka of the Arab Nation (Middle East)
Pashtun (Afghanistan) Burka tribal traditions and extreme religious norms
The influence of the Tudung Islamic Revival Movement on the Malay ethnic group (Southeast Asia)
Rajput people (India) Guungat (Sari covering face) Hindu social customs
The combination of Uyghur (China) headscarves, light gauze, Islam, and regional culture
extended discussion
Functional differences: The veil is not only a religious symbol, but may also serve as an identity marker (such as distinguishing between married and unmarried), a sand barrier (in desert areas), or an aesthetic expression.
The controversy over women’s autonomy: The veil is seen as a symbol of oppression in some contexts, while in others it becomes a tool for women to resist Western cultural hegemony.
The diversity of this tradition globally reflects the complex interweaving of culture, religion, and history, and its significance needs to be understood in specific contexts.