Monday, October 22, 2018

Good Muslim Women

Before you talk about the trauma of motherhood, or how your masjid deliberately excludes women, or how you have been preyed upon by marriage bandits or a superstar da'ee...

You must reassure the patriarchy that you are A Good Muslim Woman.

No, of course you're not a feminist. Of course you hphold Muslim male superiority. Of course you don't think that *all* men are bad. Of course they're not to blame.

Before you talk about being a woman, about what you were told womanhood meant, about becoming a woman...

You must reassure the patriarchy that you are A Good Muslim Woman.

No, of course you don't think that men are responsible for the oppression of women. Of course you think that men have it just as bad, if not worse. Of course you know how privileged women are in Islam.

Before you endure the catcalls you endure every time you walk out of the house, before you talk about the time you were raped, before you talk about being sexually assaulted in Hajj or Umrah, before you mention the abuse of women...

You must reassure the patriarchy that you are A Good Muslim Woman.

No, of course you don't deny the obligation of hijab. Of course you dress appropriately. Of course you were with your mahram. Of course you know that men are abused too.

Before you give a talk or write a book or stand up for a cause or walk into the masjid, before you dare to publicly exist -

You must reassure the patriarchy that you are A Good Muslim Woman.

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