Karrine Steffans broke up with U.S. TV pundit Bill Maher. So what does she do? She trash-talks him in Vibe magazine and the New York Post. Fine. Trash him if you want, Karrine, but don’t bring us into it! She says of Maher, “Bill wants someone he can put down in an argument… I might as well have been a Muslim woman with my head wrapped, walking 10 paces behind my man. I couldn’t be ‘Bill Maher’s girlfriend’ any more... Read more
As featured on Racialicious. It’s time to set the record straight, everyone. So here it is: belly dancing is not a significant facet of Middle Eastern culture. It’s a dance, not a lifestyle (not according to most Middle Eastern people, anyway). I’ve had one too many people ask me if I belly dance when they hear about my religion or ethnicity. Belly dancing is something that is present in some form of another in most Middle Eastern cultures, but is... Read more
Here are some pretty awesome public service announcements. They’re in English, and I’m assuming for a western (possibly U.S.?) audience. Although I don’t know who made them, and I doubt that they’re actually shown on TV, I like the messages they’re sending. There’s the overt “Muslims are people, and we’re nice, too!” message, but there’s also the positive message that anyone can be Muslim. Especially when it comes to the women in the commercials. Women of varying ages and ethnicities... Read more
On October 31st, British television aired the two-part drama Britz, “a fictitious drama about two young Muslim British siblings in the aftermath of the 7/7 bombings and the impact that anti-terror legislation has on their lives.” Muslima Media Watch has included viewpoints from two Muslim women on Britz’s female lead, Nasima. The following authors’ viewpoints do not necessarily reflect those of Muslimah Media Watch. Safiya from Outlines writes: “Apples Do Not Exist” Neither do practicing Muslims who are active and... Read more
Today is a special day, and we will have another post up later today about Britz, the contraversial “docu-drama” that aired in Britain this past week. But for now, here are some links for 11.2.07″ Author Fatemeh Keshavarz talks about her book and leadership in Iran and the U.S. The founder of Canadian Association of Muslims with Disabilities is honored by the Canadian Council of Muslim Women. Ruqaya Al Ghasara, Doha’s Asian Games 200m gold medalist, dedicates her victory... Read more
Buthayna Nasser, a Saudi TV broadcaster, debates excellently about her rights and equality to man under Islam. She kicks ass and takes names, in fact. So what’s the problem? How her views are interpreted. The title for the clip (played during the clip) is: “Debate on Women Appearing on Saudi TV.” But Ritter1001, the poster of this clip, has re-titled the piece: Islam: “We are Being Brainwashed on a Daily Basis.” Looking at Ritter1001’s video “arsenal,” you can see plenty... Read more
It’s Halloween again here in the West, and I have to say…now that I’m a grown up, Halloween sucks. Especially because of: Slutty costumes (I just had to say it) Slutty “ethnic” costumes: Native American girl, geisha, etc. In particular: Harem girl costumes Belly dancer costumes Genie costumes Cleopatra costumes Arab sheikh costumes These costumes reinforce the eroticized and/or dangerous stereotypes associated with Muslim and Middle Eastern men and women. Plus, it’s doubly insulting because (usually) non-Middle Eastern and/or... Read more
The Fourth Annual Brass Crescent Awards are here, loyal readers! According to their website, the Brass Crescent Awards are “an annual awards ceremony that honors the best writers and thinkers of the emerging Muslim blogosphere … Nominations are taken from blog readers, who then vote for the winners.” Please show us some love by nominating us–for whatever! We appreciate your votes and support! Also, take a look at our links to get ideas for other categories; we have links... Read more
No matter what your feelings are on Benazir Bhutto, you have to admit this caption is really poorly-worded: If not simply in poor taste, the caption also raises the question of sexism: if the newspaper was investigating a man, would the word “booty” have been used? Read more
Remember to wear a pink scarf/hejab today! Support breast cancer survivors and create awareness of the disease! Here are some good reads for 10.26.07: The first Pakistani woman astronaut gets ready to blast off! Ed Husain from U.K.’s The Guardian explores Women Without Borders in Vienna, and the platform they have given to Muslim women. Lilith Attack explores the racist backlash from a bus incident in which the bus driver wore a headscarf. A Spanish film about the discrimination... Read more
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