Does the Conservativeness of Religious Veiling Signal Trust and In-Group Commitment?

This research explored whether the conservativeness of religious veiling among Muslim women acts as a costly signal of trustworthiness and in-group commitment. Across three studies, we examined how different levels of veiling—from liberal to conservative attire—affect perceptions within Muslim communities and between Muslim and Christian participants. In Study 1, with Muslim participants using a between-subjects design, women in official attire were perceived as more trustworthy than those in liberal clothing, with no significant differences between conservative and liberal attire regarding trustworthiness. Study 2 employed a within-subjects design, finding that women in official clothing were rated higher in trustworthiness compared to those in liberal and conservative attire. Study 3 included both Muslim and Christian participants and directly assessed in-group commitment alongside trustworthiness. Muslim participants rated women in conservative and official clothing as more trustworthy and committed to the in-group than those in liberal attire, while Christian participants did not differentiate based on the level of conservativeness of veiling. Overall, the findings provide partial support for veiling as a signal within Muslim communities. Results suggest that official attire—rather than conservative veiling—enhances perceptions of trustworthiness, likely due to its appropriateness in professional contexts.