by Nadiah Mohajir Cultural stigmas have existed for thousands of years, yet never have I ever been more haunted by the unfortunate effect they have on mental and physical health outcomes. Earlier this week, a young Pakistani teen girl went into labor, delivered a baby in her bedroom, and then, fearful of her mother’s disapproval, dropped the baby out of her 8th floor window. Since I found out about this horrific situation, I have carried it with me. It is... Read more
A Lesson from the Major League Baseball’s New Domestic and Sexual Violence Policy by Samar Kaukab There’s been much talk recently about the responsibility of communities and institutions (schools, organizations, community-based organizations, etc.) when someone among its ranks is accused of domestic or sexual violence. We often hear: “Let the legal system play out…innocent until proven guilty…This is not our job but law enforcement’s,” and so on. To what end does this passive approach take us when it comes to... Read more
Exploring Sexual Experiences, Shame, and Access to Sexual Health Information among Muslim Youth in Canada & U.S.: A Research Study We welcome guest writer and researcher Sobia Ali Faisal, who recently earned her doctoral degree from the University of Windsor. Her research is compelling and was turned into an info graphic. Below, she succinctly explains what her research findings were and why it is so important for our communities to begin making a commitment to sex education for Muslim youth.... Read more
by Nadiah Mohajir Domestic violence is a reality in every community, and is not limited to only one racial, ethnic, religious or socioeconomic group. 1 in 3 women experience domestic violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. We each play our roles in the fight against domestic violence: this piece explores our collective responsibility in building safer communities- communities in which our victims are not blamed, in which they feel safe and supported, and most importantly, empowered not just... Read more
by Nadiah Mohajir When thinking about Islamic values around sex and sexuality, two that are often emphasized are modesty and privacy. We are encouraged in Islam to embody modesty – both with respect to external appearance as well as our thoughts, behavior and interactions with others – and we are encouraged to be private about our bodies and our sexuality. Intimacy and sex are seen as enjoyable, but sacred experiences between two people, most often in the context of marriage.... Read more
When I was in third grade, my best friend – who was in fifth grade – came running home after school, pulling me into my room, shutting the door, and exclaiming out of breath, “you will NOT believe what I learned today.” And, then, complete with diagrams of x’s and y’s, my friend told me all about her sex education class. I listened intently, not interrupting her a single time. When she was finally done, she looked up and said,... Read more
Heartfelt
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