It was 2007. I had just graduated college and was interviewing for a spot at a dental school in Texas. My interviewer was a mid-50's, blond-haired, white female with a spectacular reputation at the school as a student-friendly teacher. However, during our interview she began asking a disturbing row of questions.
Keep in mind that these were the years of U.S. engagement in Afghanistan and the resultant media stories about the "backwardness" of Afghan and Islamic culture. The interviewer asked me what I thought of the full face-covering (referring to the burqa) worn by many Afghan women.
At first, I was taken aback and struggled to answer. I replied that I personally wouldn't force anyone to wear it, reminded her of the freedom of religious choice, and commented on the lack of education in Afghanistan for women. I also told her that educated women, under no coercion whatsoever, still freely choose to wear a covering and that my own sister wears a hijab. My interviewer didn't seem satisfied with my answer, replying with an "uh-huh".
It was an uncomfortable experience.
I had two more interviewers. One of them touched on the violence in the Middle East, but in a more congenial and sympathetic tone. Again, I was surprised the conversation was even going in that direction, since I was at a dental school interview whose purpose is to evaluate my potential for dentistry. Additionally, I'm not even from Afghanistan - I'm actually Pakistani and have been in the U.S. since age one.
Suffice it to say, I did not get into the school. I'm not claiming the reason I didn't get in was ethnic bias, but those questions definitely did feel inappropriate.
Keep in mind that these were the years of U.S. engagement in Afghanistan and the resultant media stories about the "backwardness" of Afghan and Islamic culture. The interviewer asked me what I thought of the full face-covering (referring to the burqa) worn by many Afghan women.
At first, I was taken aback and struggled to answer. I replied that I personally wouldn't force anyone to wear it, reminded her of the freedom of religious choice, and commented on the lack of education in Afghanistan for women. I also told her that educated women, under no coercion whatsoever, still freely choose to wear a covering and that my own sister wears a hijab. My interviewer didn't seem satisfied with my answer, replying with an "uh-huh".
It was an uncomfortable experience.
I had two more interviewers. One of them touched on the violence in the Middle East, but in a more congenial and sympathetic tone. Again, I was surprised the conversation was even going in that direction, since I was at a dental school interview whose purpose is to evaluate my potential for dentistry. Additionally, I'm not even from Afghanistan - I'm actually Pakistani and have been in the U.S. since age one.
Suffice it to say, I did not get into the school. I'm not claiming the reason I didn't get in was ethnic bias, but those questions definitely did feel inappropriate.
