When being politically correct is insulting…

For the past ten years I’ve worked at a Level One Trauma Center; it is always buzzing with doctors, nurses, staff; the constant flow of patients for clinic; emergency rooms; and trauma. And for the past ten years I’ve seen a steady increase of the women in all positions and professions in our hospital that wear hijab…and our mosque inside the hospital has grown as well…beautiful carpet; large expansive prayer room; a growing library, air conditioning; lovely & roomy Sister space, etc. Jumma’ah is a packed day almost all the time, Alhamdulillah!

And other than that fateful time in 2001, where our staff didn’t quite know how to handle things (who did?), those in hijab worked basically unmolested. People got promoted; nurses did their job; residents finished their residencies and fellows became Attendings…we continued business as usual- saving lives.

Until two days ago…

We’ve recently “acquired”, for lack of a better word, another hospital to add to our network. Our meetings at that hospital have had their moments; as to be expected…but what I didn’t expect was for the need of one person in particular to attempt at being politically correct towards a Muslim, and in the process be insulting.

I’ve never had an issue with shaking a man’s hand during a business meeting- to me its part of my working rules and I never gave it a thought- but the person in question used the handshaking bit as a platform to “apologize for shaking my hand” while trying to put me in my place – as a Muslimah… What happened, ended up being a display of uncalled for show of airs -I-know-more-about-this-Muslim-thing-than-you-do; while reminding me that like some of the perceived notions of where a Muslimah stands in the world -I should run and hide- not seen or heard.

But you see, I get paid to do my job; the hijab was never a concession –I have it on and its not negotiable. The unspoken etiquette of the business world is handshaking as a business greeting -again not negotiable unless your country dictates otherwise. I am working!!! not looking for a mate; nor wanting to show how “unattractive” I must appear so no one gets the wrong idea… as if!

Business is business – religious worship is worship – and I abide by separation of church and state- so let’s leave my Islam where it belongs – in my private life- and let’s get down to business!