As with so many discussions on the state of Islam, the question of whether Islam is a feminist religion really boils down to the age-old clash between culture and religion. Anecdotal evidence from the past suggests Islam is a feminist religion, with women taking on roles based on what they felt was required to fulfil…
The F Word
How to be a Feminist if You’re a Muslim Man and Why It’s Required
“The most complete of the believers in faith are those with the most excellent character, and the best of you are the best in behaviour to their women” [Sunan al-Tirmidhī 1162]. Let’s start with the obvious: I am not a man. I do not have the lived, embodied experience of reconciling with what it means…
On Muslim Men & the ‘Boys Will Be Boys’ Mentality
By leahvernonI don’t like to be the bearer of burden. And, I’ll probably receive hella hate for writing this, but I’m about to be a young-looking 30 and as I age, I’m figuring out that I have very little fucks to give. I’m 100 percent sure that this happens in every religion and culture, since the…
This Is What Really Went on in My Mind as I Was Being Raped
By Guest BloggerWritten by Anonymous. Trigger Warning: Rape, Sexual Assault. Warning: There is strong adult language and explicit content in this article. — It wasn’t by choice. That liberty was taken from me. I always thought I had been pretty passive – a sweet pushover in high school. How I made my innocent way outside of that I’ll…
Should Muslim Women Feel Lucky to Live in Western Countries?
By AmaniThe criticism I hate receiving the most is always along the lines of, “As a Muslim woman, you shouldn’t be speaking about violence against you in the West, because at least it’s not as bad as how your people treat you in the Muslim world!” This attitude is often not only adopted by bigots and…
I Turned Down Playboy and Still Support Women’s Choice to Do It
By AmaniThe Muslim Twitterverse has been roused to anger again by the one hot button topic that is certain to awaken even the quietest recesses of our community: the scrutiny of veiled Muslim women in the public eye. A good friend of mine, Noor Tagouri, recently made the decision to give an interview to Playboy about…
Muslim Internet Proves Cyberbullying is Mad Real
By Guest BloggerIn case you missed it, a Muslim woman who wears hijab was photographed for Playboy magazine. And — not unexpectedly — the Muslim Internet imploded. Aspiring journalist Noor Tagouri accepted an invitation to be featured in the magazine’s October “Renegades” issue. Clad in jeans, sneakers, a jacket, and her hijab, the 22-year-old social media personality…
Feminism, Orientalism, Asra Nomani, and the Hijab: An Open Letter
By hodakatebiIt’s important for me, as an Iranian Muslim woman, to take up space. My narrative and identity are being constantly misrepresented, silenced and ignored–whether that is virtually, by way of audience at a panel event, or simply being constantly dismissed as angry and emotional. A few weeks ago, I spoke on a panel at the…
Hijab or Not, Sexual Harassment Has Nothing to Do With Dress Codes
By Hasnaa Mokhtar“You look hot in that outfit. Care to join me in my apartment after work to discuss your promotion?” One in three women between the ages of 18-34 has heard a similar, unwelcome sexually harassing comment at work, according to a recent survey. In the tech industry alone, 65 percent of women reported unwanted sexual…
ICYMI: There Should Be #NoAllMalePanels After This
By Guest BloggerLet’s be honest. No one can deny that there is a harsh gender divide in our community. Well, we’re doing something about that. Last night, MuslimGirl and some incredible avid moguls, writers, and personalities took to Twitter in an epic tweetstorm to attack these issues head on. With the bold hashtag #NoAllMalePanels, the voices of…
The ‘Nudity’ of Westernized Feminism
By Hasnaa MokhtarI was living in Montreal, Canada in 2010 and attending a French class to improve my language skills. I remember the lively and diverse group of students I studied and conversed with. I also remember the hot days of that summer and the challenge of having to wear my headscarf and modest clothing in high…
Why the Phrase ‘I Hope You Have a Baby Boy!’ Needs to Go
By Guest BloggerRecently an uncle visiting from overseas stayed with us for a few days. He was a pleasant and amiable man, keen to take in the sights and always up for a good yarn. On one such occasion, as he sat with me chatting over tea, he impressed me with his nonchalant comments about how his…
Hey, FEMEN — Topless Women Are Not Liberating Muslim Girls
By Sabha AbourTopless women at a Muslim conference? This is supposed to be some sort of statement to liberate Muslim women? Apparently, every “true feminist” knows that liberating Muslim women from the oppression they live in everyday under those radical extremist men is the ultimate feminist victory. I mean, every woman who wears the hijab must be…
White Woman Exploits Muslim Women for Own Interests Again — This Time for Porn
By Sarah HarvardThere’s a problem with white liberal feminists: it’s their refusal to acknowledge that women of color are capable of empowering themselves. This phenomenon runs rampant in today’s society, and it’s especially rearing its ugly head in — wait for it — the porn industry! This time, it’s with Women of the Middle East, a BDSM…
Porn Exploiting Women of Color Arouses Racists
By Guest BloggerThe correlation between pornography and violence against women is already one that has been extensively examined, but while the question of whether pornography “causes” hatred against women is decried as a deceitful one, the manifestation of racist misogyny in pornography is evident. Three simple Google searches for women color followed by the word “abuse” renders an abhorrent…