We at Muslimah Media Watch seem to get asked a lot, “Well, what would make you happy?”
Personally, being a young idealist, part-time cynic, and a lady who is just plain uppity, complaining is what really makes me happy. And when it comes to the portrayals of Muslim women in worldwide media, there is no shortage of happiness.
But while a great side effect of our complaining would be change, change often comes slowly. Our main aim is to point out what is right and wrong with media portrayals of Muslim women—because if it’s not seen as “broken,” then no one will see any need to “fix it.” The first step is awareness of a problem; after this will come strategies to solve the problem, enshallah.
That being said, what would make me happy?
Obviously, I’d be thrilled if stereotypes (such as those of exoticism, danger, repression, etc.) would finally just die out. I’d like to see Muslim women represented as we are: people of different viewpoints, races, levels of practice, sexualities, nationalities, abilities, etc. Muslim women are just like any other people: all different. I want to see us define ourselves without worrying about becoming pigeonholed about being “this” or “that” type of Muslim or woman. I want to see us speak for ourselves without facing backlash or unfair appropriation from our communities, societies, and governments (both Muslim and non-Muslim). I’d like images of Muslim women to be contextualized instead of becoming cultural shorthand for things like “religion” or “conservative” or “security threat.”
Dear readers, what would you like to see when you see Muslim women in the media? What would make you happy?
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I would like to see a story about Muslim women that does not have any negative storylines in it…such as, maybe Im a successful business woman but in order to accomplish that I had to go against my culture etc….I want to see successful stories of Muslim women in the media that had positive life experiences…while wearing hijab…or not…while happily married…or not….while living her life just like any other “ordinary” woman without her religion being a major factor into why she made it or why she had to fight her way to make it. I want the fact that she is Muslim to just be another detail in the story…not the main point…something like that.Am I asking too much…I wish not.
“I want the fact that she is Muslim to just be another detail in the story…not the main point…”I agree. However she may be, this to me would be the most important thing. Her being a Muslim is not the main point – it just in the background.
Ameen. Complaining makes me immensely happy too, which is why I love this blog.
Salaam Alaikum,I want no more sweeping statements, veiled (or not so veiled) racism, pity and judgement by people who have never spoken to a Muslim.From Muslims I would like less ‘crabs in a barrel’ type behaviour and definitely less: “They are so terrible, look how pious I am in comparision” about their brothers and sisters in Islam.
I’d like to see Muslim women represented as we are: people of different viewpoints, races, levels of practice, sexualities, nationalities, abilities, etc. Muslim women are just like any other people: all different.That about sums it up!
I’d like for media outlets to ditch the “surprise, surprise!” tone whenever they report on a Muslim woman who has achieved some success – be she an activist, a politician, an artist or anything else. While many of these women have had to surmount great obstacles, and are indeed worthy of applause, they are not “Islam’s Luthers”.I’d like for Muslim women to stop being regarded in a pitiful manner, and as children who need to be taught how to behave. Granted, it’s difficult to escape injecting one’s biases and opinions into an article, but at least realize and appreciate that we too are strong determined women with a strong desire to fight for our rights. We don’t need to have others dictating upon us what course of action to take. This is our struggle.
very well phrased. while i agree with you completely what i feel is often ignored by such critiques and media analyses is that they mostly apply to Muslim women in America and other western countries. Those women are free to have different viewpoints, races, levels of practice, sexualities, nationalities, abilities, etc. When media articles talk about Muslim women abroad they are usually right on the money in terms of actual oppression etc, even if the articles are racist and truly offensive in many ways. I’d like to see OBJECTIVE media coverage of the abuses that specifically affect Muslim women, while examining as many angles as possible. just ignoring many of the manifold existing problems and attacking depictions of them as racist or whatever is not helpful to those women at all.
I’d be happy if reporters writing a about Muslim women had a thorough understanding of Islam, Muslim women in particular, Orientalism, politics, culture, and whatever other issues are relevant to the story before setting out. That would provide far better journalism as well as avoiding so many of the clichés, inadvertent offensive comments, and stereotypes perpetuated by the media. This would be especially necessary for covering serious issues such as brought up by forsoothsayer.
what would make me happy?that which will please Allah.for if Allah is pleased with me then with out doubt my state will be pleasing to me.i urge you all to practise the deen to your utmost constantly seeking happiness; happiness when yhou care for others out of the love of Allah happiness when you recieve your record happiness when you enter jannah and taste those moments when you will finaly feel rest it may be hard to find the truth and hold too it remember the hadith of holding on to coals but let not the eliquance of the speech of some misguide you or the misunderstanding of some influence you hold tight to the quran and sunnah from the understanding of the companions who were there to ask questions and be sure they did things right
A covering sister, thank you for your comment. However, the question asked was “what would you like to see when you see Muslim women in the media? What would make you happy?”Please make sure that, in the future, your comments are relevant to Muslim women in the media; that’s what this blog is about.