“Sometimes you feel like a dehumanized object. How do you navigate your place in the world when you don’t feel comfortable in your own skin.”
[image description: (Image 1, above) -a photo of a young Muslim-American woman posed in the middle of the capital steps surrounded by various people protesting. Her arms are crossed in front of her, and she wears a black and white floral shirt exposing part of her midriff. The protesters hold varying signs that illustrate popular stereotypes and controversies surrounding Muslim-American women. One man has a poster of two lollipops wrapped and one unwrapped with flies stuck to it. A woman in front holds a sign depicting the proper way to wear the hijab. Another woman holds a sign that reads “Muslim women, let's get naked,” - representing a white savior. Amongst the chaos, Imaan ignores the protesters, and she stares into the camera with a slight, empowered smirk.] (*Note: The people in the photo are actors and this does not represent their actual beliefs).]
Imaan, 27 - Michigan
Having immigrated to the United States at a young age, Imaan faced culture shock and the joint pressures of being a young girl. Growing up as a Muslim-American, she dealt with the trials of adolescence through the lens of a Muslim woman; her peers looked and dressed very differently. Imaan struggled with her cultural identity and finding her place. She endured racism and sexism in and outside of her own culture that often led to feeling unsafe and uncomfortable with her appearance.
Muslim women like Imaan have long been underrepresented and misrepresented in the mainstream. They have been viewed as passive and oppressed objects and met with criticism surrounding the way they dress. Despite this, Muslim women are speaking out against Islamophobia and challenging stereotypes that come from both sides of the fence.
Imaan’s story shows how some Muslim-American women redefine body image in modern American culture and create a space for other Muslim-American women and girls.
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#SeeBodiesDifferently #MidwestBrokenMirror
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