By Muslim Girl teamed up with Teen Vogue to bring you #AskAMuslimGirl, a video series delivering the voices of our squad of millennial Muslim women on the topics that young Americans want to hear about. Especially with the current election cycle, there is a media mayhem surrounding Islam and Muslims, and a lot of inaccuracies and misconceptions are perpetuated as a result. This is why it’s more important than ever for Muslim women to take back the mic and talk back.
Here with Teen Vogue, we talk love, faith, and politics, and get real about what it’s really like to come of age in the post-9/11 era.
Check out some highlights from #AskAMuslimGirl below:
On hijab:
“Just because it’s not something I wear everyday—it’s [still] on my mind and it does play a role in my life. It’s not like it’s an all or nothing thing. … Even if it’s not something on your head, it’s definitely something in your head.” —Zoha Qamar, Muslim Girl writer, on hijab as a spiritual concept
On dating:
“I’m doing you a favor by hitting on you. No one else probably does because of that thing you wear on your head.” —Safaa Khan, social media manager, on things Muslim women are tired of hearing from men
On Donald Trump:
“Donald, it was cute when you first started, but you can stop now.” —Sara Abozed, Muslim Girl editor, on Trump’s racist rise
On growing up Muslim in America:
“I got a lot of ‘Why is your skin like that?’ ‘Why do you not speak English properly?’ ‘What is that stuff on your hands?’ It was henna. It was for Eid.” —Shanzay Farzan, Muslim Girl editor, on the lack of understanding
On facts about Islam:
“The Arabic word for ‘man’ and the Arabic word for ‘woman’ appear in the Qur’an the same number of times. That’s gender equality for you.” —Halimah Elmariah, Muslim Girl writer, on things nobody has told you about Islam