Patterns of Veiling Among Muslim Women

This paper exploits a unique source of data, the Gallup World Poll, and is the first cross-country empirical investigation of veiling patterns in Muslim-majority countries, complementing a rich literature on veiling from other disciplinary perspectives. We find evidence of links between veiling and religiosity, age, education levels, marital status, support for political Islam, and employment status. On the basis of these correlations, we discuss possible reasons for why women veil. These include: to conform to religious beliefs, as a sign of obedience to the patriarchal bargain, to increase their mobility outside the home, to protect against the threat of violence, and to signal their support for political Islam.