[Music] I am a feminist I must like feminists
I am a feminist I must like feminists
I am a feminist I must like feminists now you might think those two things
now you might think those two things
now you might think those two things can’t go together and I’m here to prove
can’t go together and I’m here to prove
can’t go together and I’m here to prove you wrong the misrepresentation of a
you wrong the misrepresentation of a
you wrong the misrepresentation of a Muslim woman is a global phenomenon my
Muslim woman is a global phenomenon my
Muslim woman is a global phenomenon my job tells you I’m a Muslim and with that
job tells you I’m a Muslim and with that
job tells you I’m a Muslim and with that people assume I’m either forced to dress
people assume I’m either forced to dress
people assume I’m either forced to dress the way I do I’m passive or I’m caged by
the way I do I’m passive or I’m caged by
the way I do I’m passive or I’m caged by the men in my family the first thing I’d
the men in my family the first thing I’d
the men in my family the first thing I’d like to say is I choose to wear the
like to say is I choose to wear the
like to say is I choose to wear the hijab it’s a decision I make every
hijab it’s a decision I make every
hijab it’s a decision I make every single day I am NOT oppressed I am NOT
single day I am NOT oppressed I am NOT
single day I am NOT oppressed I am NOT passive and I’m certainly not caged
passive and I’m certainly not caged
passive and I’m certainly not caged unfortunately unfortunately the media
unfortunately unfortunately the media
unfortunately unfortunately the media puts Muslim women in three big
puts Muslim women in three big
puts Muslim women in three big categories veiled oppressed or the worst
categories veiled oppressed or the worst
categories veiled oppressed or the worst one of all homogeneous the media also
one of all homogeneous the media also
one of all homogeneous the media also generalizes and associates the followers
generalizes and associates the followers
generalizes and associates the followers of Islam to other dehumanizing
of Islam to other dehumanizing
of Islam to other dehumanizing stereotypes but let’s focus on the
stereotypes but let’s focus on the
stereotypes but let’s focus on the misconceptions of the Muslim woman
misconceptions of the Muslim woman
misconceptions of the Muslim woman number one oppressed there are a couple
number one oppressed there are a couple
number one oppressed there are a couple of reasons why people think Muslim women
of reasons why people think Muslim women
of reasons why people think Muslim women are oppressed and some of it leads back
are oppressed and some of it leads back
are oppressed and some of it leads back to the translations and interpretations
to the translations and interpretations
to the translations and interpretations of an ayah when Islamic scholars debate
of an ayah when Islamic scholars debate
of an ayah when Islamic scholars debate this topic they often refer back to the
this topic they often refer back to the
this topic they often refer back to the 34th verse in chapter 4 according to one
34th verse in chapter 4 according to one
34th verse in chapter 4 according to one translation it states as to those women
translation it states as to those women
translation it states as to those women who you fear disloyalty and ill conduct
who you fear disloyalty and ill conduct
who you fear disloyalty and ill conduct whose part you fear disloyalty and ill
whose part you fear disloyalty and ill
whose part you fear disloyalty and ill conduct admonish them first second
conduct admonish them first second
conduct admonish them first second refused to share beds with them and
refused to share beds with them and
refused to share beds with them and third beat them however in recent
third beat them however in recent
third beat them however in recent decades a growing number of scholars
decades a growing number of scholars
decades a growing number of scholars have argued that such interpretations go
have argued that such interpretations go
have argued that such interpretations go against major Islamic teachings of
against major Islamic teachings of
against major Islamic teachings of non-violence and gender equality the
non-violence and gender equality the
non-violence and gender equality the Prophet peace be upon him teachings were
Prophet peace be upon him teachings were
Prophet peace be upon him teachings were to treat women kindly and with respect
to treat women kindly and with respect
to treat women kindly and with respect but men who don’t understand the
but men who don’t understand the
but men who don’t understand the complexity of that verse used it to
complexity of that verse used it to
complexity of that verse used it to justify their abuse in Islam killing one
justify their abuse in Islam killing one
justify their abuse in Islam killing one person is like killing all of mankind
person is like killing all of mankind
person is like killing all of mankind but it’s true that violent practices are
but it’s true that violent practices are
but it’s true that violent practices are common to some part of the world as part
common to some part of the world as part
common to some part of the world as part of their culture but this is where we
of their culture but this is where we
of their culture but this is where we draw the line violence committed under
draw the line violence committed under
draw the line violence committed under the name of culture and tradition is
the name of culture and tradition is
the name of culture and tradition is just as horrific as violence committed
just as horrific as violence committed
just as horrific as violence committed anywhere else we need to stand up for
anywhere else we need to stand up for
anywhere else we need to stand up for women who are under systematic
women who are under systematic
women who are under systematic oppression while religions like Islam
oppression while religions like Islam
oppression while religions like Islam condemn any acts of violence against
condemn any acts of violence against
condemn any acts of violence against women they are men and women yes I said
women they are men and women yes I said
women they are men and women yes I said women who hold up these systemic
women who hold up these systemic
women who hold up these systemic oppressions and make it a norm in their
oppressions and make it a norm in their
oppressions and make it a norm in their societies another reason why people
societies another reason why people
societies another reason why people think Muslim women are oppressed is the
think Muslim women are oppressed is the
think Muslim women are oppressed is the lack of education in Islam not only is
lack of education in Islam not only is
lack of education in Islam not only is supposed to seek education it’s a duty a
supposed to seek education it’s a duty a
supposed to seek education it’s a duty a responsibility placed on mankind male
responsibility placed on mankind male
responsibility placed on mankind male and female the prophets allah jalla wa
and female the prophets allah jalla wa
and female the prophets allah jalla wa sallam said whosoever follows a path to
sallam said whosoever follows a path to
sallam said whosoever follows a path to seek knowledge Allah will make it easy
seek knowledge Allah will make it easy
seek knowledge Allah will make it easy for his or her path to paradise but
for his or her path to paradise but
for his or her path to paradise but Muslim women face restrictions in
Muslim women face restrictions in
Muslim women face restrictions in accessing education that differ greatly
accessing education that differ greatly
accessing education that differ greatly from one region to another
from one region to another
from one region to another for example in Somalia the participation
for example in Somalia the participation
for example in Somalia the participation of education is lower in girls than boys
of education is lower in girls than boys
of education is lower in girls than boys due to social norms safety concerns lack
due to social norms safety concerns lack
due to social norms safety concerns lack of female educators or even the
of female educators or even the
of female educators or even the availability of separate bathrooms for
availability of separate bathrooms for
availability of separate bathrooms for girls number two veils many Muslim women
girls number two veils many Muslim women
girls number two veils many Muslim women choose to wear the hijab it means
choose to wear the hijab it means
choose to wear the hijab it means different thing to each individual to
different thing to each individual to
different thing to each individual to some it’s a reminder to make good
some it’s a reminder to make good
some it’s a reminder to make good choices to others it’s to be modest a
choices to others it’s to be modest a
choices to others it’s to be modest a couple of months ago I went to a Muslim
couple of months ago I went to a Muslim
couple of months ago I went to a Muslim youth group and which consisted of
youth group and which consisted of
youth group and which consisted of mostly middle and high school girls and
mostly middle and high school girls and
mostly middle and high school girls and as we talked we connected over some of
as we talked we connected over some of
as we talked we connected over some of the prejudices we deal with in our
the prejudices we deal with in our
the prejudices we deal with in our communities we all agreed that it was
communities we all agreed that it was
communities we all agreed that it was hard to figure out how to fit in when
hard to figure out how to fit in when
hard to figure out how to fit in when what we wear makes a standout I wear the
what we wear makes a standout I wear the
what we wear makes a standout I wear the hijab as a sign of devotion and I’m
hijab as a sign of devotion and I’m
hijab as a sign of devotion and I’m proud that it this is a symbol of my
proud that it this is a symbol of my
proud that it this is a symbol of my faith as a Muslim woman who wears the
faith as a Muslim woman who wears the
faith as a Muslim woman who wears the hijab your faith is going to be your
hijab your faith is going to be your
hijab your faith is going to be your first impression it’s what you tell
first impression it’s what you tell
first impression it’s what you tell people before you even get to say hello
people before you even get to say hello
people before you even get to say hello as a result Muslim women are more likely
as a result Muslim women are more likely
as a result Muslim women are more likely than men to face anti-muslim attacks in
than men to face anti-muslim attacks in
than men to face anti-muslim attacks in public because there’s a job or their
public because there’s a job or their
public because there’s a job or their physical appearance is the reminder of
physical appearance is the reminder of
physical appearance is the reminder of Islam this is not acceptable or an
Islam this is not acceptable or an
Islam this is not acceptable or an excuse to make assumptions and
excuse to make assumptions and
excuse to make assumptions and categorize Muslim women into a
categorize Muslim women into a
categorize Muslim women into a stereotype I’m empowered by my choice
stereotype I’m empowered by my choice
stereotype I’m empowered by my choice and agency like many Muslim women there
and agency like many Muslim women there
and agency like many Muslim women there are many athletes scholars professors or
are many athletes scholars professors or
are many athletes scholars professors or even fashion icons who wear the hijab
even fashion icons who wear the hijab
even fashion icons who wear the hijab out of choice the hijab worn and taken
out of choice the hijab worn and taken
out of choice the hijab worn and taken by choices empowering because
by choices empowering because
by choices empowering because empowerment is individual so don’t use
empowerment is individual so don’t use
empowerment is individual so don’t use the hijab to categorize marginalized
the hijab to categorize marginalized
the hijab to categorize marginalized silence
silence
silence one woman number three homogenous when
one woman number three homogenous when
one woman number three homogenous when people think Islam or Muslims many
people think Islam or Muslims many
people think Islam or Muslims many people assume Arab or people or Middle
people assume Arab or people or Middle
people assume Arab or people or Middle East or people belong to one race or
East or people belong to one race or
East or people belong to one race or ethnicity my friend and I have actually
ethnicity my friend and I have actually
ethnicity my friend and I have actually been asked where our ethnicity are and
been asked where our ethnicity are and
been asked where our ethnicity are and when I said Somali and my friend said
when I said Somali and my friend said
when I said Somali and my friend said it’s open they were confused because
it’s open they were confused because
it’s open they were confused because they thought we were Muslim yeah we’re
they thought we were Muslim yeah we’re
they thought we were Muslim yeah we’re both it’s a religion it’s a religion not
both it’s a religion it’s a religion not
both it’s a religion it’s a religion not a race or an ethnicity the first real
a race or an ethnicity the first real
a race or an ethnicity the first real wave of Islam started with slavery
wave of Islam started with slavery
wave of Islam started with slavery Muslims made up to 10 to 15 percent of
Muslims made up to 10 to 15 percent of
Muslims made up to 10 to 15 percent of the slaves that were brought into the
the slaves that were brought into the
the slaves that were brought into the u.s. remaining of Muslim was difficult
u.s. remaining of Muslim was difficult
u.s. remaining of Muslim was difficult for many Muslims many were forcibly
for many Muslims many were forcibly
for many Muslims many were forcibly converted to Christianity and if they
converted to Christianity and if they
converted to Christianity and if they wanted to keep their traditional
wanted to keep their traditional
wanted to keep their traditional clothings names or faith life they had
clothings names or faith life they had
clothings names or faith life they had to do it in secret so if Muslims were
to do it in secret so if Muslims were
to do it in secret so if Muslims were part of this country since slavery why
part of this country since slavery why
part of this country since slavery why do people only think the Middle East or
do people only think the Middle East or
do people only think the Middle East or terrorism the truth is the media linked
terrorism the truth is the media linked
terrorism the truth is the media linked terrorism to Islam and when most of
terrorism to Islam and when most of
terrorism to Islam and when most of these so-called Muslim terrorists happen
these so-called Muslim terrorists happen
these so-called Muslim terrorists happen to be from the Middle East and that’s
to be from the Middle East and that’s
to be from the Middle East and that’s all you keep hearing about everyone
all you keep hearing about everyone
all you keep hearing about everyone thinks that’s where all Muslims come
thinks that’s where all Muslims come
thinks that’s where all Muslims come from Muslims are diverse in race culture
from Muslims are diverse in race culture
from Muslims are diverse in race culture occupation language or anything else you
occupation language or anything else you
occupation language or anything else you can imagine
can imagine
can imagine during my first two years of high school
during my first two years of high school
during my first two years of high school I was not as vocal as I am today
I was not as vocal as I am today
I was not as vocal as I am today I worked hard to stay invisible but the
I worked hard to stay invisible but the
I worked hard to stay invisible but the transition of becoming bicultural has
transition of becoming bicultural has
transition of becoming bicultural has been a tough one of struggling to hold
been a tough one of struggling to hold
been a tough one of struggling to hold on to one culture while the other one
on to one culture while the other one
on to one culture while the other one inevitably takes over but however the
inevitably takes over but however the
inevitably takes over but however the isolation I felt was not due to language
isolation I felt was not due to language
isolation I felt was not due to language because I was fluent in English but
because I was fluent in English but
because I was fluent in English but rather dismiss informed idea that were
rather dismiss informed idea that were
rather dismiss informed idea that were not as enlightened or we need saving and
not as enlightened or we need saving and
not as enlightened or we need saving and emancipation from our religion but I
emancipation from our religion but I
emancipation from our religion but I learned critical thinking skills I
learned critical thinking skills I
learned critical thinking skills I learned that we need to question biased
learned that we need to question biased
learned that we need to question biased information and realize how it affects
information and realize how it affects
information and realize how it affects our perception last year after the rise
our perception last year after the rise
our perception last year after the rise of tension in our school my friends and
of tension in our school my friends and
of tension in our school my friends and I started a minority inclusion
I started a minority inclusion
I started a minority inclusion Association the school happily accepted
Association the school happily accepted
Association the school happily accepted our idea and helped us implement it it
our idea and helped us implement it it
our idea and helped us implement it it was our way of recognizing there needs
was our way of recognizing there needs
was our way of recognizing there needs to be
to be
to be our cultural understanding especially as
our cultural understanding especially as
our cultural understanding especially as our communities grow to be more diverse
our communities grow to be more diverse
our communities grow to be more diverse understanding cultural differences
understanding cultural differences
understanding cultural differences begins with having an open mind secondly
begins with having an open mind secondly
begins with having an open mind secondly learning is best done through engaging
learning is best done through engaging
learning is best done through engaging so seeking answers to your questions and
so seeking answers to your questions and
so seeking answers to your questions and having an open dialogue is crucial about
having an open dialogue is crucial about
having an open dialogue is crucial about race or even religion open dialog can
race or even religion open dialog can
race or even religion open dialog can mean asking the right questions looking
mean asking the right questions looking
mean asking the right questions looking for answers as long as you’re engaging
for answers as long as you’re engaging
for answers as long as you’re engaging and not assuming lastly did not be
and not assuming lastly did not be
and not assuming lastly did not be afraid to talk about your culture
afraid to talk about your culture
afraid to talk about your culture because you just want to fit in a
because you just want to fit in a
because you just want to fit in a simulation should not have to be a
simulation should not have to be a
simulation should not have to be a tactic to erase our identities I’m proud
tactic to erase our identities I’m proud
tactic to erase our identities I’m proud to say that I am a Muslim feminist we
to say that I am a Muslim feminist we
to say that I am a Muslim feminist we need to have the courage of standing up
need to have the courage of standing up
need to have the courage of standing up and not let anyone limit us
and not let anyone limit us
and not let anyone limit us [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Music]
[Music] you
you
you [Music]
”
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