Any Muslims on BB today?

My friend's daughter is doing an assignment at school about Muslim women. She has sent me an 'interview' to fill out about being a Muslim woman. Since I'm not very typical I was wondering if anyone else might fill one out as well. You could PM me your answers if you don't want to answer here. If you only want to answer some of the questions that's ok

FAITH JOURNEY
1. Were you raised into the Islamic faith? If not, what religion did you convert from and when/why?
ROLE OF WOMEN WITHIN FAITH
1. How do you see your position as a woman in your faith?
2. Do you believe that your roles as a woman in the Islamic faith to balance both work and family life?
3. Do you see it as your role as a Muslim woman to create an Islamic household?
4. How do you find religious fulfillment as a woman?
COVERINGS
1. Do you believe in the covering of women within your faith? Why/Why not? To what extent?
2. Do you wear any kind of religious related coverings? If so, what do you wear?
3. What is your opinion on the Burqa/Hijab?
a. Should women be pressured into wearing these coverings?
b. In your opinion, do you see the Burqa and Hijab to be a form of suppression of women or as an act of declaring faith/ liberation? Why?

im feeding a baby at the moment so typing one handed (multitasking!)

would love to help so will pop back in later.

FAITH JOURNEY
1. Were you raised into the Islamic faith? If not, what religion did you convert from and when/why?
I wasnt brought up with any religion. I always believed in 'God' or something out there, I had a few other things that I would believe in from time to time, like reincarnation, new age stuff etc, but not firmly I just thought it sounded cool .
I became Muslim when I was 14. I hadnt been looking into religion at all it just sort of fell in my lap, took my by surprise because I had never heard of Islam before or even knew what a Muslim was but I loved it. I knew I wanted to be Muslim even though it was very different to how I was raised, it just felt so right. 8 years now and havent looked back
ROLE OF WOMEN WITHIN FAITH
1. How do you see your position as a woman in your faith?
I see myself as very important. we are taught that women raise the next generation and as mothers and daughters and sisters we are suppose to be completely taken care of and protected always. theres a saying that women are precious and fragile like 'glass vessels'.
2. Do you believe that your roles as a woman in the Islamic faith to balance both work and family life?
not sure how to answer...will have a think.
3. Do you see it as your role as a Muslim woman to create an Islamic household?
well generally women are the main cargivers of children as the Men are the ones who are the breadwinners. so yes but it is also the role of the Father/Husband and the community as a whole.
4. How do you find religious fulfillment as a woman?
I feel it is more of a challenge in this country to be a Muslim woman but at the same time, more fulfilling because I feel like a have a strong purpose to prove to people what muslim women are like or what they should be like. I feel great after being asked in the shop questions about Islam and the person asking sincerely thanks me for my time and says they learnt something from me.
COVERINGS
1. Do you believe in the covering of women within your faith? Why/Why not? To what extent?
yes I do believe in it. It is mentioned clearly in the Qur'an and the Prophet Traditions (Hadith). I believe, according to the scriptures, that women are supposed to cover their bodies in loose, non transparent clothing, covering everything except the face and hands, the face veil being an extra step if one chooses to which is classed as 'encouraged' if possible.
2. Do you wear any kind of religious related coverings? If so, what do you wear?
yes, when I go out I always wear an abaya (long sleeve loose dress to the ground, any colour, not blingy or with loads of patterns, I usually wear a plain colour) and a long head scarf (i like blue/purple/grey/green, I hardly wear black) and also I wear a face veil most of the time but not places that I am unfamiliar with or that I know the people there would be the rude kind or if they probably haven't encountered a covered woman before. have copped a fair bit of abuse before so I wear it where I know its 'normal' to the people.
3. What is your opinion on the Burqa/Hijab?
as stated above
a. Should women be pressured into wearing these coverings?
well I've never been pressured nor have I ever pressured anyone. I have plenty of friends who dont dress as I do and its there business. we discuss it but thats all. pressure wont help, education might and encouragement.
b. In your opinion, do you see the Burqa and Hijab to be a form of suppression of women or as an act of declaring faith/ liberation? Why?
I don't see it as suppression at all to be honest. I can understand how it can seem that way from the outside, I wasn't muslim at one point so I do understand. actually when I wanted to become muslim I said I would do it, as long as I didn't have to wear 'that thing'. its hard to explain but after you accept to submit to God and the Qur'an becomes your guide in life, my heart changed. I love hijab and have never taken it off not out of fear from anyone but because I believe it is better for me in the sight of God in this life and the next. We don't believe God tells us to do something that is extreme or beyond our capabilities. He tells us to do things for a reason and it is always beneficial, even if we don't see it straight away.

sorry was a bit long and I hope that helps

JazakAllah Khair