American Muslim Women Resist Soft Target Stereotype

Hena Zuberi

While Muslim women, especially those who cover, are on the front lines confronted with rabid hate and targeted attacks, the consistent image portrayed of vulnerable Muslim women crying on screen sharing their stories slaps a victim logo on all of us. The message that it sends within the community is terribly debilitating as our youth internalize it. The majority of us are not afraid, we don’t live in constant fear. Yes, we are more aware of our surroundings, more of us are taking self-defense classes and organizing but the majority of Muslim women are not victims and we don’t choose to live like victims. Media needs to do a better job of highlighting Muslim women who are thriving despite the rising hate crimes, the uncertainty and the multitude of hurdles placed in their path.

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