Mad Magazine: Marie Claire’s Bias Against Muslim Women

Last updated on: September 2, 2009 at 12:00 am By Guest Contributor

This piece was written by Guest Contributor Asma T. Uddin. Asra Nomani’s recent piece in Marie Claire, “My Big Fat Muslim Wedding”, underscored everything that is wrong with Marie Claire’s coverage of Islam and Muslim women. Nomani’s piece was a confused narrative at best, conflating culture with religion and individual bad experiences with larger truths about entire faiths. A story that should have been about Nomani’s conflicted path to love somehow became a treatise on Islam and love generally, suggesting... Read more

Hot Shots: Complex Magazine Ranks Hot Muslim Women

Last updated on: September 1, 2009 at 12:00 am By Sara Yasin

“Sara, I could never get with a Muslim girl, how do they make you guys so unattainable?” a womanizing co-worker once asked me in all seriousness. There is nothing that I love more than a man that sees “ethnic” women as another check mark on an international bingo card. I’ve heard a number of men whine about their inability to woo a Muslim woman. Such failed efforts were swimming in my mind as I read a most fascinating article on... Read more

MMW introduces another new contributor!

Last updated on: August 31, 2009 at 1:00 am By princesse

Dear Muslimah Media Watch Readers, I’m princesse de Clèves, a new contributor based in Paris, France. As a long-time MMW reader, I have enjoyed the articles as much as the challenging dialogues involved by your comments. As a writer, I will hopefully cover the stories and discourses related to the representation of women and Islam in the European media landscape. Deconstruction in prospect! If you have any suggestion, please feel free to contact me. If you want to know more about my background etc., please check the MMW Contributors page. If you want to... Read more

Seksualiti Merdeka: Coming to Terms With the Love that Dares not Speak its Name

Last updated on: August 31, 2009 at 12:00 am By alicia

Who would have thought that sexuality rights were being celebrated in the historical and cultural heart of the Malaysian capital two weeks ago? Malaysia, like anywhere else (Muslim-majority or not) has long suffered from homophobia and transphobia in the most public of places: unsubstantiated accusations of homosexual behaviour landed one of the most influential politicians in recent times in jail and long-term disgrace. The media, meanwhile, which often sees itself as a moral guardian secondary to religious authorities, takes advantage... Read more

MMW introduces Eman, a new contributor!

Last updated on: August 30, 2009 at 9:00 pm By emanhashim

Hello, I’m Eman Hashim. An Egyptian ophthalmologist, a writer and a blogger. Born and living in Cairo, Egypt, I grew up watching how women are being treated, what is expected from them and how women deal with all this. I intend to share my observations, impressions and interpretations with you. It’s not an opinion; it’s how I perceive things. I kind of hope you do the same with me. Let’s all think loudly together. This can be really inspiring. My... Read more

Friday Links — August 28, 2009

Last updated on: August 29, 2009 at 12:00 am By fatemeh

Can Faisal al Yafai asks why haven’t Arab women broken the glass ceiling? On the popularity of plastic surgery in Saudi Arabia. Na’ima B. Robert offers her portrait of a Muslim marriage. Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno’s caning has been postponed for Ramadan. AltMuslim examines the situation further. School girls in Gaza are being told to wear more conservative clothing, including headscarves. More protests against a Mali law giving women equal marriage rights. Killing the Buddha searches for the “new Muslim... Read more

A New “View” of Arab Women

Last updated on: August 27, 2009 at 12:00 am By Guest Contributor

This was written by Zehra Rizavi and originally published on AltMuslimah. An attractive Arab woman in her mid-30s, wearing a silver silk hijab and high-collared matching silver blouse, looks into the camera and says, “Recently, in Qatar there has been talk of providing sex education to the youth. Subjects [would] include dealing with sexual desires, homosexuality, relationship issues and sexual harassment.” The hostess then turns to the three women seated beside her and a candid discussion ensues, with the eldest... Read more

The Other Half of the Sky: the NYT Magazine’s Women’s Crusade Issue

Last updated on: August 26, 2009 at 12:00 am By Sara Yasin

At the heart of many of the problems plaguing Muslim women in developing nations is a dollar bill, not a Qur’an. That was the overall impression I received from reading last Sunday’s Times Magazine. The issue of women in developing nations may not appear to be an impending issue for the Muslim community. In fact, the phrase “women in development” may turn away many readers. However, these issues are at the heart of many global conflicts, and in many cases,... Read more

Common Ground: Sexist Ramadan “Mistakes”

Last updated on: August 25, 2009 at 12:00 am By malika

For many of us, the last few weeks before the start of Ramadan mark a time to prepare ourselves mentally and spiritually for gaining the benefits of the month ahead. As such, the mass email forwards began arriving in my inbox in early August, with lists prepared by various Muslim institutions gently reminding the faithful to beware of the “Common Mistakes Made During Ramadan.” The Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department of Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, recently published... Read more

Ramadan Mobarak!

Last updated on: August 21, 2009 at 12:20 am By fatemeh

Ramadan mobarak, dear readers! Muslimah Media Watch wishes all of its Muslim readers and their families a blessed and happy Ramadan! The first week of Ramadan is always a little difficult, and things around here are going to be that way, too! We’re upgrading and moving to a better server this weekend. We’re also getting several new contributors! So bear with us over the weekend–hopefully, we’ll be back into the swing of things by Monday, enshallah. Read more