They leave a Muslim-majority country to work in other Muslim-majority countries, yet they face systemic abuse. Reports from NGOs like Migrant CARE note that the cewek hijab is a target for employers who assume a veiled woman is docile, servile, and will not report rape or wage theft due to shame.
One prominent flashpoint is the critique of hijab gaul or jilboobs —terms used colloquially in Indonesia to describe women who wear the headscarf but pair it with tight, form-fitting Western clothing. Traditionalists and conservative religious groups argue that this compromises the spiritual purpose of the veil. Conversely, progressive voices defend it as a natural step in a young woman's personal autonomy and style experimentation.