the Magic Kingdom a wonderful place where all your dreams come true my
where all your dreams come true my
where all your dreams come true my dreams were at least until I heard mmm
dreams were at least until I heard mmm
dreams were at least until I heard mmm oh my god I can’t believe her mom makes
oh my god I can’t believe her mom makes
oh my god I can’t believe her mom makes her wear that wait a minute what
her wear that wait a minute what
her wear that wait a minute what after a brief confrontation I realized
after a brief confrontation I realized
after a brief confrontation I realized that that girl was talking about my
that that girl was talking about my
that that girl was talking about my headscarf more commonly known as the
headscarf more commonly known as the
headscarf more commonly known as the hijab see I was in the Magic Kingdom
hijab see I was in the Magic Kingdom
hijab see I was in the Magic Kingdom that day on my way to meet my favorite
that day on my way to meet my favorite
that day on my way to meet my favorite Disney Princess Merida from the Pixar
Disney Princess Merida from the Pixar
Disney Princess Merida from the Pixar movie brave and I was fixing my scarf in
movie brave and I was fixing my scarf in
movie brave and I was fixing my scarf in an attempt to get the perfect style the
an attempt to get the perfect style the
an attempt to get the perfect style the perfect coverage however those girls
perfect coverage however those girls
perfect coverage however those girls thought that I was a quiet uneducated
thought that I was a quiet uneducated
thought that I was a quiet uneducated oppressed girl that deserved to be
oppressed girl that deserved to be
oppressed girl that deserved to be pitied
pitied
pitied however I am NOT oppressed nor am I an
however I am NOT oppressed nor am I an
however I am NOT oppressed nor am I an educated considering I’m standing before
educated considering I’m standing before
educated considering I’m standing before you today instead we should consider the
you today instead we should consider the
you today instead we should consider the hijab to be a form of social expression
hijab to be a form of social expression
hijab to be a form of social expression contrary to the mainstream idea that
contrary to the mainstream idea that
contrary to the mainstream idea that it’s a form of female subordination
it’s a form of female subordination
it’s a form of female subordination today we will delve into a whole new
today we will delve into a whole new
today we will delve into a whole new world and identify what the hijab is
world and identify what the hijab is
world and identify what the hijab is then we’ll look at the different reasons
then we’ll look at the different reasons
then we’ll look at the different reasons behind wearing the hijab before we
behind wearing the hijab before we
behind wearing the hijab before we finally look at how the hijab allows a
finally look at how the hijab allows a
finally look at how the hijab allows a woman to let it go and empower herself
woman to let it go and empower herself
woman to let it go and empower herself first let’s actually think about what
first let’s actually think about what
first let’s actually think about what the hijab is according to the
the hijab is according to the
the hijab is according to the merriam-webster dictionary the hijab is
merriam-webster dictionary the hijab is
merriam-webster dictionary the hijab is a traditional covering of the head and
a traditional covering of the head and
a traditional covering of the head and neck that is worn by Muslim women the
neck that is worn by Muslim women the
neck that is worn by Muslim women the definition is technically correct the
definition is technically correct the
definition is technically correct the job is much more than that the hijab is
job is much more than that the hijab is
job is much more than that the hijab is not only a cloth a woman uses to cover
not only a cloth a woman uses to cover
not only a cloth a woman uses to cover herself but a lifestyle a lifestyle
herself but a lifestyle a lifestyle
herself but a lifestyle a lifestyle that’s prescribed to men as well a man
that’s prescribed to men as well a man
that’s prescribed to men as well a man should lower his gaze when speaking to a
should lower his gaze when speaking to a
should lower his gaze when speaking to a woman in order to show her respect in
woman in order to show her respect in
woman in order to show her respect in both genders shouldn’t touch one another
both genders shouldn’t touch one another
both genders shouldn’t touch one another casually unless there is a relation
casually unless there is a relation
casually unless there is a relation between them though it sounds strict and
between them though it sounds strict and
between them though it sounds strict and straight-laced it’s not as extreme as it
straight-laced it’s not as extreme as it
straight-laced it’s not as extreme as it seems see it not only humbles the woman
seems see it not only humbles the woman
seems see it not only humbles the woman but the man as well so they must respect
but the man as well so they must respect
but the man as well so they must respect one another as equals you are wearing
one another as equals you are wearing
one another as equals you are wearing the hijab right now you just didn’t know
the hijab right now you just didn’t know
the hijab right now you just didn’t know it the hijab is not only how you dress
it the hijab is not only how you dress
it the hijab is not only how you dress but also how you act and interact with
but also how you act and interact with
but also how you act and interact with others how you judge yourself and how
others how you judge yourself and how
others how you judge yourself and how you view the world around you that is
you view the world around you that is
you view the world around you that is your
your
your and some women choose to symbolize that
and some women choose to symbolize that
and some women choose to symbolize that hijab by wearing the headscarf now we
hijab by wearing the headscarf now we
hijab by wearing the headscarf now we come to the next question
come to the next question
come to the next question why do women wear the hijab anyways
why do women wear the hijab anyways
why do women wear the hijab anyways according to many misconceptions that
according to many misconceptions that
according to many misconceptions that are around the world many women are
are around the world many women are
are around the world many women are supposedly forced to wear the hijab
supposedly forced to wear the hijab
supposedly forced to wear the hijab however that’s further than the truth
however that’s further than the truth
however that’s further than the truth according to Islamic teachings a woman
according to Islamic teachings a woman
according to Islamic teachings a woman cannot be forced into doing anything
cannot be forced into doing anything
cannot be forced into doing anything against her will a philosophy our dear
against her will a philosophy our dear
against her will a philosophy our dear Merida strongly believes in there are
Merida strongly believes in there are
Merida strongly believes in there are many reasons behind wearing the hijab
many reasons behind wearing the hijab
many reasons behind wearing the hijab and it can really vary from person to
and it can really vary from person to
and it can really vary from person to person for me it took about two to three
person for me it took about two to three
person for me it took about two to three years to decide if I really wanted to
years to decide if I really wanted to
years to decide if I really wanted to wear the hijab or not but my journey
wear the hijab or not but my journey
wear the hijab or not but my journey with the hijab began much before that as
with the hijab began much before that as
with the hijab began much before that as a young girl I was enamored and
a young girl I was enamored and
a young girl I was enamored and fascinated by the hijab all the
fascinated by the hijab all the
fascinated by the hijab all the different colors and styles through so
different colors and styles through so
different colors and styles through so many options however I was scared I
many options however I was scared I
many options however I was scared I started the summer before seventh grade
started the summer before seventh grade
started the summer before seventh grade at the time it felt like an uneducated
at the time it felt like an uneducated
at the time it felt like an uneducated decision one that was fuelled by
decision one that was fuelled by
decision one that was fuelled by instinct sure my parents supported me
instinct sure my parents supported me
instinct sure my parents supported me wholeheartedly but I could still feel
wholeheartedly but I could still feel
wholeheartedly but I could still feel the unwanted stares as I walked on the
the unwanted stares as I walked on the
the unwanted stares as I walked on the street later on I realized that I felt
street later on I realized that I felt
street later on I realized that I felt like I had a duty to represent my
like I had a duty to represent my
like I had a duty to represent my religion and my gender in a positive
religion and my gender in a positive
religion and my gender in a positive light I was frustrated with the way I
light I was frustrated with the way I
light I was frustrated with the way I was being represented in society and in
was being represented in society and in
was being represented in society and in the media when I turned on the news I
the media when I turned on the news I
the media when I turned on the news I was considered to be the wife sister or
was considered to be the wife sister or
was considered to be the wife sister or daughter of a terrorist and when I
daughter of a terrorist and when I
daughter of a terrorist and when I looked to society as a woman I was being
looked to society as a woman I was being
looked to society as a woman I was being judged more by my appearance not by my
judged more by my appearance not by my
judged more by my appearance not by my intellect in other words if I chose to
intellect in other words if I chose to
intellect in other words if I chose to go against societal norms I was
go against societal norms I was
go against societal norms I was considered to be oppressed and if I
considered to be oppressed and if I
considered to be oppressed and if I chose to follow them I became an object
chose to follow them I became an object
chose to follow them I became an object the hijab allowed me to silently express
the hijab allowed me to silently express
the hijab allowed me to silently express my opinion breaking the mold of how a
my opinion breaking the mold of how a
my opinion breaking the mold of how a woman is valued in society by changing
woman is valued in society by changing
woman is valued in society by changing the way I dressed but also shedding a
the way I dressed but also shedding a
the way I dressed but also shedding a positive light on my religion of Islam
positive light on my religion of Islam
positive light on my religion of Islam through my contributions to society in
through my contributions to society in
through my contributions to society in the hijab I was able to find peace and
the hijab I was able to find peace and
the hijab I was able to find peace and protection after I started wearing hijab
protection after I started wearing hijab
protection after I started wearing hijab I really began to let it go I became an
I really began to let it go I became an
I really began to let it go I became an independent and empowered women the
independent and empowered women the
independent and empowered women the hijab allowed me to feel more judged by
hijab allowed me to feel more judged by
hijab allowed me to feel more judged by my intellect and my
my intellect and my
my intellect and my actions not by my appearance popular
actions not by my appearance popular
actions not by my appearance popular Malaysian artist Yuna skyrocketed to
Malaysian artist Yuna skyrocketed to
Malaysian artist Yuna skyrocketed to fame in the United States after her
fame in the United States after her
fame in the United States after her creative lyrics became known to the
creative lyrics became known to the
creative lyrics became known to the likes of Pharrell Williams and later
likes of Pharrell Williams and later
likes of Pharrell Williams and later moved on to perform a full US tour with
moved on to perform a full US tour with
moved on to perform a full US tour with Florentin machine however unlike many
Florentin machine however unlike many
Florentin machine however unlike many mainstream artists hood of today Yuna is
mainstream artists hood of today Yuna is
mainstream artists hood of today Yuna is not your typical beauty her bare minimum
not your typical beauty her bare minimum
not your typical beauty her bare minimum makeup of red lipstick and cat eyeliner
makeup of red lipstick and cat eyeliner
makeup of red lipstick and cat eyeliner grace her for APS in two full albums
grace her for APS in two full albums
grace her for APS in two full albums along with her hijab Yuna was recognized
along with her hijab Yuna was recognized
along with her hijab Yuna was recognized for her creative talents not for her
for her creative talents not for her
for her creative talents not for her appearance but that doesn’t mean muslim
appearance but that doesn’t mean muslim
appearance but that doesn’t mean muslim woman can’t be fashionable as well
woman can’t be fashionable as well
woman can’t be fashionable as well according to studies done in january
according to studies done in january
according to studies done in january 2015 the muslim fashion industry was
2015 the muslim fashion industry was
2015 the muslim fashion industry was valued to be at 96 billion u.s. dollars
valued to be at 96 billion u.s. dollars
valued to be at 96 billion u.s. dollars that is a lot of glass slippers see what
that is a lot of glass slippers see what
that is a lot of glass slippers see what we felt is he has a society is the
we felt is he has a society is the
we felt is he has a society is the positive impact the hijab has on a woman
positive impact the hijab has on a woman
positive impact the hijab has on a woman we take in the secular anti a job
we take in the secular anti a job
we take in the secular anti a job sentiment seen in our media and
sentiment seen in our media and
sentiment seen in our media and portrayed in society and subconsciously
portrayed in society and subconsciously
portrayed in society and subconsciously also portrayed them when presented with
also portrayed them when presented with
also portrayed them when presented with the idea of hijab
the idea of hijab
the idea of hijab however in Islam a woman is equal to a
however in Islam a woman is equal to a
however in Islam a woman is equal to a man she gets the same rights that he
man she gets the same rights that he
man she gets the same rights that he does she can be the breadwinner of the
does she can be the breadwinner of the
does she can be the breadwinner of the home the hijab allows a woman to go
home the hijab allows a woman to go
home the hijab allows a woman to go above appearance and focus on her mind
above appearance and focus on her mind
above appearance and focus on her mind so that she is in more control for
so that she is in more control for
so that she is in more control for actions when you think about it the
actions when you think about it the
actions when you think about it the hijab is a beautiful idea one that is
hijab is a beautiful idea one that is
hijab is a beautiful idea one that is happily embodied by many women around
happily embodied by many women around
happily embodied by many women around the world however it is an idea that is
the world however it is an idea that is
the world however it is an idea that is under constant attack especially in the
under constant attack especially in the
under constant attack especially in the current climate of our country after the
current climate of our country after the
current climate of our country after the dreadful attacks in France last November
dreadful attacks in France last November
dreadful attacks in France last November the number of Islamophobic incidents in
the number of Islamophobic incidents in
the number of Islamophobic incidents in the United States raised significantly
the United States raised significantly
the United States raised significantly almost higher than the numbers in the
almost higher than the numbers in the
almost higher than the numbers in the months following 9/11 as of October 26th
months following 9/11 as of October 26th
months following 9/11 as of October 26th 2016 after all show up as of October 26
2016 after all show up as of October 26
2016 after all show up as of October 26 2016 there have been a 111 reported
2016 there have been a 111 reported
2016 there have been a 111 reported incidents of Islamophobia in the United
incidents of Islamophobia in the United
incidents of Islamophobia in the United States now these are things that have
States now these are things that have
States now these are things that have led to police charges or actual police
led to police charges or actual police
led to police charges or actual police filings but haven’t considered the
filings but haven’t considered the
filings but haven’t considered the harassment that many women face on the
harassment that many women face on the
harassment that many women face on the street every day after the election
street every day after the election
street every day after the election many Muslim communities feared that this
many Muslim communities feared that this
many Muslim communities feared that this number would increase significantly and
number would increase significantly and
number would increase significantly and we’re concerned about the women and
we’re concerned about the women and
we’re concerned about the women and girls that chose to wear the hijab there
girls that chose to wear the hijab there
girls that chose to wear the hijab there is something wrong with that and we have
is something wrong with that and we have
is something wrong with that and we have the power to fix it we have the power to
the power to fix it we have the power to
the power to fix it we have the power to accept and respect the hijab now I’m
accept and respect the hijab now I’m
accept and respect the hijab now I’m asking you something very simple today
asking you something very simple today
asking you something very simple today I’m not asking you to completely fall in
I’m not asking you to completely fall in
I’m not asking you to completely fall in love with the idea of the hijab nor am I
love with the idea of the hijab nor am I
love with the idea of the hijab nor am I asking you to wear a pillowcase on your
asking you to wear a pillowcase on your
asking you to wear a pillowcase on your head every time you go out but what I am
head every time you go out but what I am
head every time you go out but what I am asking you is to be open to the idea of
asking you is to be open to the idea of
asking you is to be open to the idea of the hijab consider to be a form of
the hijab consider to be a form of
the hijab consider to be a form of social expression the hijab is not a
social expression the hijab is not a
social expression the hijab is not a chain that holds a woman back from her
chain that holds a woman back from her
chain that holds a woman back from her true potential but is instead the key to
true potential but is instead the key to
true potential but is instead the key to her success those that choose to wear
her success those that choose to wear
her success those that choose to wear the hijab wear than individuals
the hijab wear than individuals
the hijab wear than individuals individuals that choose not to succumb
individuals that choose not to succumb
individuals that choose not to succumb to society’s norms the hijab keeps a
to society’s norms the hijab keeps a
to society’s norms the hijab keeps a woman steadfast in which he believes in
woman steadfast in which he believes in
woman steadfast in which he believes in and strong against her obstacles that
and strong against her obstacles that
and strong against her obstacles that day at the Magic Kingdom I got my
day at the Magic Kingdom I got my
day at the Magic Kingdom I got my picture with Princess Merida as you have
picture with Princess Merida as you have
picture with Princess Merida as you have seen before and let me tell you it was
seen before and let me tell you it was
seen before and let me tell you it was pretty awesome on my way home as I chose
pretty awesome on my way home as I chose
pretty awesome on my way home as I chose the 20 Instagram filters that I applied
the 20 Instagram filters that I applied
the 20 Instagram filters that I applied to this picture I chose something I’d
to this picture I chose something I’d
to this picture I chose something I’d realized something really really
realized something really really
realized something really really important sure there was Merida in that
important sure there was Merida in that
important sure there was Merida in that picture a beautiful independent and
picture a beautiful independent and
picture a beautiful independent and strong Disney Princess who embodies many
strong Disney Princess who embodies many
strong Disney Princess who embodies many values that I tried to embody myself but
values that I tried to embody myself but
values that I tried to embody myself but there was also me and who says I can’t
there was also me and who says I can’t
there was also me and who says I can’t be a princess to accept I would be
be a princess to accept I would be
be a princess to accept I would be wearing a crown of a different kind
wearing a crown of a different kind
wearing a crown of a different kind thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] thank you so much for that powerful talk
thank you so much for that powerful talk
thank you so much for that powerful talk you certainly taught me a lot I hadn’t
you certainly taught me a lot I hadn’t
you certainly taught me a lot I hadn’t known about Islamic culture and I thank
known about Islamic culture and I thank
known about Islamic culture and I thank you again for reminding us that we must
you again for reminding us that we must
you again for reminding us that we must accept and respect each other no matter
accept and respect each other no matter
accept and respect each other no matter what no matter how different we may seem
what no matter how different we may seem
what no matter how different we may seem I do have one question though you said
I do have one question though you said
I do have one question though you said your favorite princess was Merida but is
your favorite princess was Merida but is
your favorite princess was Merida but is brave your favorite Disney movie or do
brave your favorite Disney movie or do
brave your favorite Disney movie or do you have another as a very proud classic
you have another as a very proud classic
you have another as a very proud classic student Hercules is my favorite doesn’t
student Hercules is my favorite doesn’t
student Hercules is my favorite doesn’t even know I mean accurate a maybe
even know I mean accurate a maybe
even know I mean accurate a maybe Hercules is my favorite that is also my
Hercules is my favorite that is also my
Hercules is my favorite that is also my favorite movie guys you make connections
favorite movie guys you make connections
favorite movie guys you make connections every day it’s amazing
every day it’s amazing
every day it’s amazing Maria thank you so much you
”
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