Grand Rapids junior Halima Abdi poses for the photo series “The Hijab” in Wightman Hall. “No I am not forced to wear the hijab. No I am not oppressed,” Abdi said. “What many people don’t understand is the power of the hijab for me. Wearing the hijab is a choice I make. It makes me feel empowered. It makes me feel confident. It represents my faith and showcases who I am as a woman. The hijab is a representation of who I am as a person and doesn’t mean we are different.”
