By Egyptian-American writer and journalist Mona Eltahawy is used to people disagreeing with her. On March 5, she tweeted out her frustration, half in jest, after receiving an email from a stranger who took the time to tell the journalist that he didn’t agree with her views. Using the hashtag #DearSister, Eltahawy made it clear that as a Muslim woman she had no time for anyone’s lectures, whether or not they’re a stranger.
Thousands of women all over the globe quickly took it upon themselves to voice their own frustrations with men who take the time to criticize women on their appearance and behavior when they themselves make questionable decisions.
1. This #DearSister tweet that shows an entitled patriarchy and Islam can’t go hand in hand.
2. This truth ??
3. And this tweet that exposed just one of the many contradictions that are a direct result of backwards thinking.
4. This hypocrisy.
5. This head-scratcher
6. And more hypocrisy…
7. And this man who feared for his life after reading the tweets on the hashtag and felt he should speak on behalf of his brothers.
It should be made clear that the hashtag was not an opportunity for Muslim women to bash their male counterparts. Instead, women took this chance to expose the men whom we’ve all encountered in our lives. These men continuously find it necessary to comment on how a woman chooses to dress or the state of her hijab.
They try to shame Muslim women who are outspoken leaders and advocates, claiming that their actions and behaviors are “unIslamic.” These men are in fact not inspired by Islam at all, but by ignorance and backward cultural norms and practices, as well as their own sense of entitlement and colossal ego.
If they were truly cared about faith, they would hold women in high regard and hold their tongues before commenting on things that, frankly, are none of their business.
Really good read. Us men have miles to go. I try and always put myself in women’s shoes to try and pick out any misogynistic tendencies, I must admit it’s difficult because my feet are quite large but I force them in good and proper. ✌?. ( I don’t actually try women’s shoes on lolll just a joke but I make sure I treat women as I would like to be treat)
Ive compared the men of this ummah and Ive compared the women. I always believed the women were better, truth be told, the men are better. Why? Because when I remind a muslim man of his duty towards his faith, he at least listens, the replies I receive are 1) “I know, but I don’t care,” 2) “You’re right,” and 3) “When I’m older, let me enjoy my youth.” The women say to me 1) “Who the F-ck are you?” 2) “You don’t know me, you’re weird,” and 3)”Why me, cuz I’m a woman, lecture the men first.” While they hug and kiss the kaafir and say they treat them better. Wallahi, the kaafir takes pride in disgracing you, then the kaafir flaunts in front of us, the men. Not the opposite, they don’t raise in pride how the men have been defiled. If you don’t know the status of your honor as muslimahs, then you are mistaken. Why do we say Allah SWT cannot have a son, because it is beneath his Godly status to have such. When your status as a muslimah is so high, why take the opposite route and drop your status.