What’s the greatest lesson a women should learn? “That since day one, she’s already had everything she needs within herself. It’s the world that convinced her she did not.” -Rupi Kaur Okay, ladies, now let’s get in formation and discuss the mindset of being a boss. Also known as slaying. The Demureist, a digital media resource…
Society
We Need to Do More of This Syrian Refugee’s Act of Kindness
Selfless gestures often inspire me. Humanitarian campaigns and initiatives are needed and appreciated. But small, individual acts of kindness have powerful social change elements that go unnoticed. Noah, a Syrian refugee seeking political asylum in Dallas, Texas, is a great example of how an act of kindness could create profound and positive social change. Noah…
Rape, Body Image & the Exploitation of Brand Hijab™
Growing up in a post-Sept. 11 world meant growing up with Brand Hijab™: a multi-purpose device that prevented rape and sexual harassment, cured body-image problems and served as a counter-culture to the capitalist West’s exploitation of the female body. As pundits exalted the virtues of the Hijab™, the larger structures of patriarchy were left largely…
This Is How You Can Help Lift the Ban on Veils for Basketball Players
My name is Asma Elbadawi, I am a basketball player, coach, artist and spoken-word poet from Sudan. I am also an activist: I am campaigning for the International Basketball Federation to permanently lift the ban on headgear to allow players who wear turbans, hijabs, and other religious headgear to play, and to apply this rule…
Colorism: How We Can Be Better Allies to Our Black Brothers and Sisters
My father keeps the remote in his hand the entire time we watch the news. Every few minutes, he alternates between CNN and MSNBC. After a few of these rotations, he switches to Fox. We quickly shift back. We play this game until it is time for dinner or until one of us grows exhausted…
Did #CanYouHearUsNow Only Apply to Some Muslim Women?
On Sunday night, Fatima Salman asked Muslim women to join her in using the hashtag #CanYouHearUsNow because of what Donald Trump said about Ghazala Khan not being allowed to say anything. When in fact, she is still mourning her son — and it was too painful for her to say anything. Muslim women took to…
Black Magic, Jinn Possession, and DIY Exorcist Aunties
In many ways, sihr, or black magic, is linked to superstition, yet even some of the most devout Muslims believe in its existence, regardless of whether or not they are educated or uneducated, rich or poor. In the Muslim world, it’s common for men and women to visit healers for all sorts of problems, from…
Meet Aditya Tiwari: India’s Youngest Single Father Holds a Unique Wedding
India’s Aditya Tiwari — a software engineer by profession — astonishes everyone by adopting a disabled child and becoming the youngest single father in India. His decision raised many eyebrows, because the child he aspired to adopt, Binny, has Down Syndrome. In addition, Binny has a hole in his heart. Tiwari’s relatives continuously warned him…
This August Will Be Muslim Appreciation and Awareness Month
August usually signals the end of summer and back to school. But we are so excited to learn that August 2016 will be recognized as Muslim Appreciation and Awareness Month. In a statement released by Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), assembly member Bill Quirk will present House Resolution 59, which will recognize August 2016 as…
I Posted a Picture in Front of the #BlackLivesMatter Wall and the Internet Went Crazy
I used to be the kind of style blogger who didn’t speak on issues out of fear of the repercussions of what ‘others’ might say. I was a ‘style’ blogger; no one wanted to hear what I had to say when it came to politics or religion. I should’ve been talking about the newest matte lippie…
Why Does Being Muslim Exclude Us From Being ‘American’?
We’re placed into a world without consult or consent. We aren’t asked our opinions on where or when we will be born. We enter with a culture, race and place of origin attached to us. Where we come from has the ability to contribute in the shaping of our person, but how much should we…
This Is What Happened When I Talked Back to My Parents
I was once the good complacent Arab girl that every parent dreamed of; I came to accept the double standard curfew — the curfew that literally did not exist for my brothers, while I was to be home by 9:30 PM sharp. I would help cook and clean, never uttering a word on how unfair it…
Mansplaining, Ilmfest 2016, and the Break-Down of Misogyny
If you were to Google search the definition of ‘mansplaining’, it would say “to explain something to someone, typically a man to a woman, in a manner regarded as condescending or patronizing.” Having explained that, if you were to ask any Muslim women in the past few days about mansplaining, they would direct you to the IlmFest 2016…
There’s No Honor in So-Called “Honor Killings”
Qandeel Baloch was a Pakistani celebrity who rose to fame through publicizing brazenly insolent and concerningly political comments. She was highly notorious for her countless erotic and flagrant photos she had uploaded on her social media sites. Almost a week ago, she was strangled by her brother, Waseem Baloch, in a so-called “honor killing.” After…
3 Steps to Dealing With Islamophobia
Soon after the 9/11 attacks my sister and I were in downtown Philly, and stopped at a local convenience store. We walked in, babbling away about God knows what, took our items to the counter, and proceeded to pay. I have a tendency to be overly nice to mean looking people, so a bubbly hello…