As soon as I saw the headline, I have to admit I was thinking “huh?” and “what!” I’m not too keen on products geared towards women because usually these products rely heavily on stereotypes. Unfortunately, this new feminine car does just that. It’s suppose to come out in a range of “feminine colors” and “interior designs” because we are just so keen on how our car looks. I guess those guys in my neighborhood who spend thousands of dollars on... Read more
This was written by Pedestrian and originally appeared at her blog. When you come from a broken home, it’s tough to talk about your past – or present. How much do you let out? How much does the world need to know? I couldn’t help ponder the issue over and over as I was watching clips from The Stoning of Soraya M. on YouTube. At surface level, it sounds simple. Before we solve age old questions about the questions of... Read more
Natasha Bakht, a law professor at Ottawa University, has recently published a book called Belonging and Banishment: Being Muslim in Canada. I haven’t gotten my hands on the book yet, but from an article published in the Toronto Star this past weekend, it looks promising. Bakht describes her book in the Star article, saying: I wanted this book to portray a diversity of views. The things (contributors) have chosen to write about appear to be things that have been thrust... Read more
I have a bunch of announcements that I’ve been meaning to post. Please forgive the lateness. ULFAH ARTS: Mix media: radio and film making project – Missing Voices: – immediate start Have you ever though about producing a film or radio programme or wondered about kick starting a career in media? Are you female 16-19 years old and Muslim? Can you commit to weekly training sessions? Ulfah Arts is looking to train young Muslim girls in producing film or radio... Read more
Salam waleykum, readers! The Friday Links are back, but not with much of a vengeance. It’s sort of a mish-mash of all the links I saved up from before I left on my trip, so there may be some old news here, as well as a half-assed attempt at more recent news (I got really lazy after missing a week of links…it was so much easier to just not do them!). So if you have news that you don’t see... Read more
I’m a member of a group called BuSSy, which aims to raise awareness of women’s issues in Egypt. Every year, we put on a play which we call “the Egyptian version of the Vagina Monologues:” real stories written by real women. So how excited was I when I found out that one of the co-founders and the writer of The Hijabi Monologues was here in Cairo? And that she’d actually seen our performance this year? Small world. We’ve written a... Read more
Recently, there has been much discussion in the media over the use of the term “honor killing”. Is the term racist? Does it implicate Islam for killings that are not religiously sanctioned? Are “honor killings” really domestic violence that is no different from domestic violence that occurs in every society? The National Post published a feature this past weekend that looks at these questions. The story itself was balanced, getting a variety of viewpoints and presenting the issue in a... Read more
A recent Toronto Life magazine article regarding Toronto teenager Aqsa Parvez’s murder, entitled Girl, Interrupted, has sparked outrage in many circles in Toronto and beyond. And for very good reason. Journalist Mary Rogan has simply perpetuated stereotypes about Muslims, South Asian culture, and immigrant communities. The disrespectful treatment begins with the front cover, where you see a full page picture of Aqsa’s face, posing seductively with only a hint of a strap on her bare shoulder. Now call me picky... Read more
And that, dear readers, is the slogan being used to sell a non-alcoholic beer to Egyptians in a nation-wide campaign. Birell is produced by Al-Ahram Beverages, and is Egypt’s top-selling non-Alcoholic beer, owning 98% of the malt beverages market. The website describes it as “a sparkling malt beverage […] with a strong bitter malt taste, little foam and carbonation, [a] consistent thick body and [a] strong shiny gold color.” In short, it’s as close to beer as you can get.... Read more
These articles were written by Tasnim and was originally published at epiphanies. For another perspective on Halal TV, check out Ethar’s analysis here. Critical Storm before the program begins–Halal TV: “Critical storm before the program begins” the headline reads, and that, it seems to me, is exactly what happens whenever a head-scarf wearing Muslim woman makes up her little hijabied head to step into the public sphere, the limelight, the media, and presume to take on a role that contradicts... Read more
Muslimah Media Watch
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