Flemington, NJ, November 3, 2009 – Results of a national study among 813 Americans revealed that respondents expressed significantly different views of a woman wearing a shawl or hijab, and the same woman without the traditional headwear.

The study was conducted by HCD Research, using its mediacurves.com website during November 2-3, to determine whether Americans possess different views of a woman based on whether or not she wears traditional Muslim headwear. To view detailed results of the study, please go to: www.mediacurves.com

Participants were divided into two randomly assigned groups.  Members of each group were asked to view one of two separate photos of an attractive young woman. Neither photo was identified in any way.  Each sample was then asked identical questions about the woman, her age, perceived personality, activities, and how acceptable she might be as a neighbor.

One-third of participants indicated that they would rather have the woman with the traditional headwear live in another place, another city, and maybe out of the U.S, as opposed to living in their neighborhood.  However, a clear majority of participants (86%) reported that the woman without the shawl would be welcome in their neighborhood.

The woman with the shawl on her head was also viewed as much more traditional than the woman without the shawl. Participants also indicated that the woman with the shawl was strict and rigid, a good wife and devoted mother. Conversely, the woman without the shawl was perceived to be friendly, humorous, and more trustworthy. She was also viewed as a person who “always looks at the bright side” and might even be the life of the party.  

At the end of the questionnaire, the participants specifically identified the woman with the shawl on her head as Middle-Eastern in origin and a Muslim; the woman without the shawl was perceived as an American and a Catholic (maybe Protestant or Jewish). 

Editors/Reporters: For more information on the study, or to speak with Glenn Kessler, president and CEO, HCD Research, please contact Vince McGourty, HCD Research, at (908) 483-9121 or (vince.mcgourty@hcdi.net). You can also receive updates from MediaCurves.com by following us on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/mediacurves and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Flemington-NJ/MediaCurves/86691908820

HCD Research is a marketing and communications research company headquartered in Flemington, NJ.  The company's services include traditional and web-based research.  For additional information on HCD Research, access the company’s web site at www.hcdi.net or call HCD Research at 908-788-9393.  MediaCurves.com® (www.mediacurves.com) is a media measurement website that provides the media and general public with a venue to view Americans’ perceptions of popular and controversial media events and advertisements