By Zahabiya Yahya“What does freedom mean if we accept the fundamental premise that humans are social beings, raised in certain social and historical contexts and belonging to particular communities that shape their desires and understandings of the world?” — Lila Abu Lughod, Do Muslim Women Need Saving? The complicated relationship between feminism and anthropology is eloquently described by…
By Zeinab FakihThere have been several incidents globally in which female athletes have been pushing back against their mandatory team uniforms. One of the more notorious incidents that sparked worldwide media attention was that of the Norwegian women’s beach handball team. The European Handball Federation fined these women €1500 for resisting the typical uniform of bikini bottoms…
By Rokia Hassanein“Feminism is not a Western invention. Feminism is not invented by American women, as many people think. No, feminism is embedded in culture and in the struggle of all women all over the world.” This quote pops into my head every time someone tries to discredit and shame Arab and Muslim women’s feminist activism as…
By Tasnim BroudIt has already been almost two years since I left France, and this is was the best choice I have ever made as a Muslim woman. When I look back, it is as if I fled. I currently reside in the United States, in San Francisco, California. I was born and raised in Lille, France,…
By JUMMANAHOn January 25th, news broke that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, her daughter, Chelsea Clinton, and Sundog Pictures founder Sam Branson were to adapt author Gayle Tzemach Lemmon’s The Daughters of Kobani: A Story of Rebellion, Courage, and Justice and make it a TV series. The Daughters of Kobani features the story of the…
By AnonymousIt’s the late 1920s — women are well-serving housewives, and men are powerhouse executives sacrificing their time and energy for the betterment of humankind. Oh heavens, thank God for their selflessness. That is exactly how Men’s Rights Activists (MRAs) envision our world. In a series of tightly-secured events and private parties, the voices for mens’…
By imaanasimOn March 8th, some of us were celebrating International Women’s Day by watching Captain Marvel. In Pakistan, a nationwide “Aurat March” was held as a direct equivalent to the well-known “Women’s March.” Women and men from across Pakistan came together to protest against gender discrimination. I was intrigued as to why the word “Aurat” was…
By Sarah Huxtable MohrDisclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author. The F-word: feminism. I was raised a feminist by a mother who was a feminist. I was also raised in a white family, in a predominantly white neighborhood, as a Christian. My mother is a feminist, my sister is a feminist,…
By kawtherinuwaFeminism (noun): the advocacy of women’s rights on the ground of the equality of the sexes. When I first learned the definition of feminism a few years ago, I hastened to label myself a feminist, because stating otherwise just didn’t make sense. As a young woman, I felt that not striving for gender equality was not only…
By anumahmed“But how can someone be both a Muslim, and a feminist?” I remember this question being posed to me, seemingly ill-fitting during the course of a job interview. Sure, I’d brought it up – I thought it was important to mention these two labels when talking about the intersectionality of my identity, and how it…
By The EditorsBesides women winning half of Ethiopia’s cabinet roles, Ethiopia just made history this past Thursday by electing its first female president. The newly-elected president, Sahle-Work Zewde, is Africa’s only female head of state, and promised to work to build a “society that rejects the oppression of women.”
By aishasalehFeminism is light coming to confront the darkness. It is a coming of change and a warning to those who are not willing to let this change build a new world. Feminism is art and action, history and future. Feminism is present. A gift built to new heights with the fire of…
By Zeina JhaishAround 2012, a video of a young, blonde, curly-haired girl went viral on the internet, sparking international interest in the ongoing occupation of Palestinians by the Israeli military. The girl raised her fist at a fully-equipped soldier, kicking and slapping him in the face while trying to protect her home and family. Her name: Ahed…
By Amal Matan “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…
By salwakhanI’ve never viewed myself as one of “those” feminists, but I always thought of myself as an empowered Muslim woman. I didn’t marry for stability, I married for love. I never felt like I needed to get married to a traditionally “well-off” man that my Pakistani heritage glorified because I always knew that no matter…
