Challenging Stereotypes: Part II

February 18, 2014 By woodturtle

This post was originally published at wood turtle. Finally, here’s the fourth post in my series on the media stereotyping of Muslim women. It was an absolute joy to speak to these phenomenal women and it was so exciting to pick their brains. If I had the power, I would have invited everyone for a massive party. As I’ve pointed out throughout this series, these blogs and social media personalities are resource-mining and community-building. They are story telling with authentic voices and... Read more

Challenging Stereotypes: Part I

February 17, 2014 By woodturtle

This post was originally published at wood turtle. This is the third post in my ongoing series on the media stereotyping of Muslim women. There are amazing media makers in the Muslim blogosphere and this is by no means a comprehensive list of all the fabulous people out there challenging stereotypes. In fact, I’ve had to split this post into two in order to include everyone. Stay tuned for Part II. If you have a favourite example that’s not represented here, please... Read more

Friday Links | February 14, 2014

February 14, 2014 By anneke

February 6 was the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation. The UN called for a complete end of genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). UNICEF reports that more women are taking a stand against FGM in Sudan, and this has resulted in a decrease in cases of FGM over the last years. Fourteen communities in Mali representing different ethnic groups have committed themselves during an event in the capital Bamako to the eradication of FGM, and early and forced marriages. A... Read more

Mothering in an Age of Gendered Islamophobia

February 13, 2014 By woodturtle

This post was originally published at wood turtle. This is the second post in my series on the media stereotyping of Muslim women. While some media argue that (identifiable) Muslim women are more likely to suffer Islamophobic attacks than men, I also recognize that Muslim men and non-Muslim men are also recipients of racial and anti-Muslim violence. This post looks specifically at Gendered Islamophobia as targeted toward mothers and their families. — Before she was even old enough to speak, I heard many well-intentioned but offensive comments... Read more

Veil Stereotypes: Constructing and Distorting Muslim Women

February 11, 2014 By woodturtle

This post was first published at wood turtle. Last summer I spoke at a conference about some of the media stereotyping of Muslim women and the consequences that negative images and Islamophobia have on Muslim women and their families. Over a series of posts I’ll be sharing some of my research looking at the various ways Muslim women and mothers are presented by media, how this effects women’s relationships to their families, religion and Selves, and how women are in turn, responding... Read more

Friday Links | February 7, 2014

February 7, 2014 By anneke

In a new report by Human Rights Watch, Iraq gets slammed for its treatment of its female prisoners, who are often subjected to torture, including sexual abuse. A relatively small change in Afghan law will have huge consequences for victims of domestic violence, as it will enable men to abuse their female family members without fear of punishment. Activists call on Afghan president Karzai to veto the law. A Malaysian man has been sentenced to 12 years in jail for... Read more

A Computer and a Webcam: Finding Muslim Love and Long-Distance Relationships in a Globalized World

February 3, 2014 By eren

With Valentine’s Day coming up, I have found myself wondering about relationships, dating and marriage. As a woman that has been in a long distance relationship for numerous years, big heart-shaped balloons, teddy bears and red roses are not part of my life. However, after joining grad school I noticed that I am not the only woman who bitterly relies on Skype and numerous apps to communicate with my significant other. I was recently shocked to know that not only... Read more

Friday Links | January 31, 2014

January 31, 2014 By anneke

Last week the current Syrian regime announced during the peace negotiations that women and children are free to leave the city of Homs and said it would provide all the necessities, so they would not need for anything. One woman relates her horrifying experiences in Homs, before she fled the city last year. The first round of peace talks are scheduled to end today/Friday, but haven’t really lead to any substantive results yet. Despite their demand to be included, women... Read more

Book Review: “Reclaim Your Heart” by Yasmin Mogahed

January 30, 2014 By samya

A number of initiatives have been launched in the last few years to engage Muslim women in public discussions of issues related to Islam in general. In her post “Reviving the Spirit Without Recognizing Half The Audience?“, Sumaya, a guest contributor to MMW, suggested a list of women who should be invited on such events. One of them is Yasmin Mogahed (who has since spoken at the same conference that Sumaya covered), an internationally-renowned writer and speaker who launched her... Read more

Britain and the Veil: From Jack Straw to Jeremy Browne

January 28, 2014 By tasnim

The debate about whether or not “we” should have a debate about banning “veils” has returned – or maybe it would be more accurate to say that the volume has been raised, since this is a debate that seems to have been running in the background for most of the last decade. The amount of material on this topic is huge and seemingly endless, and the interest in rehashing the debate seems excessive, given that the face veil is worn... Read more