There is not a single time where muslim women were dragged into spotlight without pointing out at her hijab. If they are to be identified, they are first talked about what kind of clothes they are wearing or having wrapped their heads with hijab or not. yes, they are constantly 'talked about' but not really invited in the conversation. I don't know why media is so obsessed with a piece of cloth they have nothing to do with.
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This book is written exactly to break that stereotype. To tell the world that we are more than what we wear. Inside that burqa, we are just the same as every human being.
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"Modesty is an instrument of patriarchy, designed to limit women's agency and keep them in line. You can't deny that the modesty of a woman is all anyone obsesses about", says Coco Khan, one of the contributors of the book.
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This book has given voice to topics like feminism, hijab, sex, divorce, sexuality, identity, faith, race, female pleasure and everything that aren't talked about widely or the things that have been ignored or pushed back for a long time. This is about the struggles muslim women face especially in the west. Their anger and their struggle to live their life as 'Muslims and women' is evident through their words.
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This is exactly the kind of book that should be read by everyone to get a better perspective of our community. We have been narrowed down to 'oppressed hijabis who can't even open their mouth to ask what they want' for a very long time. We are more than that. Each and every one of us has different story to tell the world and no one can represent us better than us.
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As Mona Eltahawy says, 'We are the ones we have been waiting for. We are the revolution. Be too loud. Swear too much. Go too far." and as Afia Ahmed advices, "We are not what the media tells us to be. We don't have to watch our religion become racialized. we don't need to contribute to the dichotomy. we don't need to ponder to the beauty and fashion industries. we don't need to doubt our identity or our origins. we are more and we will always be more."
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I think they have covered up almost everything muslim women on the whole struggling to speak out. They are all so brave to open up their wounds to give us a story. These stories need to be read widely to empathize and understand what's important for women especially muslim women other than their piece of cloth (hijab).
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I would highly-- Highly recommend it. This is for everyone to know and understand and to make this world a better place.