5 Issues (Out of Many) to Focus on Instead of a “Hijabi” in Playboy

Focused on Real Muslim Women Renegades

Quite frankly, there are real Muslim women renegades out there actually challenging societal norms as well as the American Muslim cultural archetype. I am not talking about the facetious “shattering stereotype” trope that deludes a Muslim woman that taking off or putting on a hijab somehow makes her “badass.”

I don’t mean those Muslim women who spend a bunch of time building a brand that subtly feeds the stereotypical cultural norm by conforming to a “palatable Muslim woman” by dressing and behaving in ways that set to stabilize an ideal type of American Muslim woman conforming to White hegemonic standards.

No, the true Muslimah renegade is out there railing against the status quo and struggling for true liberation that prevents the corralling of Muslim women into White Eurocentric hegemonic or male-dominated cultural Islamic pens. They include:

• Amina Wadud (Challenges male-privileged Quranic exegesis)
• Namira Islam (Calls out intra-Muslim racism and bias)
• Margari Hill Aziz (Organizes spaces for marginalized Muslims and people)
• Linda Sarsour (Creates spaces of solidarity to fight multiple oppressions)
• Donna Auston (Resists Black annihilation in the American race systems

My list is incomplete. There are more Muslim women fighting discrimination in various marginalized communities and affecting positive cultural change beyond their personal ambitions.

Why not learn about and promote Muslim women who concentrate on substantial social change and increase the potential that American Muslims become more effectual in attaining justice and equality for everyone.

And before commenting, “Muslims can do both,” save it because they don’t.

Reason five: Being the “first” anything usually doesn’t get you anywhere.