What does it mean to be a feminist in 2026? While the cultural mainstream often focuses on external displays of independence, young women at Providence College are finding empowerment through an ancient tradition. By centering their identity in faith rather than social trends, they are redefining the feminist landscape. As freshman Hannah Fanelli puts it: “Veiling is an act of feminism.”
It has been trending that as Gen Z starts to enter the Catholic world, voices have been raised that the younger generation is bringing back old-rooted traditions. As Catholicism is being taught less and less in the household, this generation is finding the Church through their own efforts, making them more committed to understanding the Church more fully. This has led to great reverence and devotion amongst young Catholics, contrasting our secular, pluralistic world.
These young women are focused on reverence above anything else. Ekaterina Rau, a recent convert to Catholicism and a senior at Providence College, says, “It’s a specific thing I do only for the Lord.” The trend being observed is young women veiling to attend a traditional Latin Mass, then falling in love with the practice. Ashley Lopez says, “It creates a shift in awareness. I’m not in just any place, but before the Lord. In veiling, we acknowledge that we are under God’s protection.”
Ekaterina continues, “I especially like how it blocks my peripheral vision, and so I am less distracted and can keep my focus straight towards the tabernacle, towards the Lord.” Lola Amendolare seconds this notion, saying, “When it comes to Jesus, I don’t have any distractions while veiling, I just lock in on Jesus.” The vast majority of veiled women specifically report that it keeps them from playing with their hair, looking around, and keeps them from vanity. Gabreilla Lamenda “When I wear it, I don’t have to worry about what my hair looks like. It puts a bigger focal point on God, and where’s a better place to focus on God than in His house?”
Veils are more than beautiful accessories and blinders from distractions; there is much more behind the surface of the statement. Each young woman recognized that Catholic veiling originates from the Church’s tradition of veiling what is sacred, the tabernacle, the chalice, etc. From the very beginning of the church, femininity and motherhood were seen as sacred, deserving of being veiled. On top of this, they look at who Jesus loved most on earth and wisely follow her example, “I like to imitate Our Lady, I feel when I wear a veil, I am closer to her,” Hannah Fenilli says. Ashley agrees that this adornment of the blessed Virgin, saying, “Veiling allows me to draw closer to Mother Mary.”
To these young women, it is feminism in the light of the Church. “Today, you know, being a woman is hard to reconcile with the modern idea of feminism, which robs women of a lot of different things, like being a mother, being a wife. So I think that wearing a veil, it kind of reminds me of what I’m supposed to be as a woman of God,” Gabriella said.
These young women continue to gently promote that wearing a veil is truly a way to connect with God on a deeper level and reject a modern feminism that harms women’s self-esteem and ability to live the roles they were made for. Ashley concludes this line of thought with this: “It is a way of submitting to God and recognizing our sacredness as women.” Wearing the veil is an outward sign of what they have always known: they are women who God has called by name. Regardless of each woman’s vocation, they see the ultimate spouse and most important man in their lives will always be Jesus. Hannah Feneilli continues, “I feel like it’s just between God and me, I feel like God’s daughter who has the veil, I would encourage any woman to try it, I feel it’s definitely strengthened my relationship with God.”
