Thread by @sarahrana769, THREAD ON MULSIM REPRESENTATION IN MEDIA AND STORIES (1/?) Muslims have [...]

THREAD ON MULSIM REPRESENTATION IN MEDIA AND STORIES (1/?)

Muslims have an array of experiences—including how & to what extent each practices their religion, if they converted, or were born into the religions. Some are culturally exposed but have less attachment. (2/?)

However in media, the common rep depicting Muslims are Western norms that *always* show Muslims deviating from religious practices e.g: forgoing the hijab, subjugated in sexist households where only a white man or woman can save them, terrorism, extremism, & unhalal love (3/?)

Do l have an issue if Muslims write nuanced experiences of this? No. But I have an issue with THESE being the only stories produced by media & publishers. Many times, they are not written by non-Muslims who fall back on problematic biases. (4/?)

TINY PRETTY THINGS on Netflix mocked the way a Muslim character prays & practices modesty (making out in the prayer area, really?) or how the Muslim was scapegoated for the Iraq War (invasion!) by the other characters. This is the most recent example of problematic rep. (5/?)

There are thousands of examples like the Netflix show, Elite. Let’s discuss other rep we need and how you can rethink the way you portray Muslims (6/?)

If the character is forced into hijab by their family, stop

We have enough of these stories. The fact is SO MANY of us choose to wear it. Why can’t we have stories exploring our journey with hijab? The ups. downs &beauty? The way we’re targeted by authorities in the West? (7/?)

If you want to write a hijabi character, look at renowned Muslim scholars, not just your one Muslim friend. Look at the history of hijab—a symbol of modesty. You can’t have a hijabi character & portray it as a piece of fabric & then have her date & take it off for a boy. (8/?)

It makes no sense for her to wear it then & concede to Western notions. Being a hijabi is a BIG life-altering CONSENSUAL step. Stop trivializing it. (9/?)

Let's talk about Muslim women. Culture/Sexism is DIFFERENT from religion. Look at the Islamic virtues of family & women. Stop resorting to what the media & non-Muslims tell you. Family is so important in Islam & so are women, ESPECIALLY MOTHERS. (10/?)

Islam preaches equality between women & men. Mothers are valued more than fathers because of the trauma of child labor, & so much else. Female rights throughout Islam (if you research) has consisted of so many female figures leading research, education, & academics. (11/?)

Muslim Fathers: If your story depicts Muslim dads to be abusive sexist monsters, rethink this. If you depict them as long-bearded radicals on the cusp of terrorism where the poor children must escape, please stop. (12/?) (this is different from unique MUSLIM experiences/trauma)

The way parents raise their children is heavily emphasized in Islam, especially treating your children with respect & providing both DAUGHTER & SON with education & rights. Education is one of the greatest virtues in Islam--it's encouraged upon everyone. (13/?)

In Islam, husbands don’t have multiple wives. It’s rare now but even when it happens, it’s not the way you think. Polygamy is such a delicate area, and western understandings will never do it justice so don’t even try

polygamy isn’t bad so stop. (14/?)

Muslims are not terrorists. Statistically, the largest suicide terrorist group isn’t even in Islam. If you want to understand terrorism, understand how it grows & becomes perpetuated. Most of you don’t have a political science degree to understand it so stop bothering. (15/?)

Radicalism is complex, it exists everywhere *coughs* American white supremacy *coughs* Whenever non-Muslims take this upon themselves to write, they cause ACTUAL HARM ON MUSLIMS. You know how many of us get attacked because you give us a terror label?! (16/?)

Look at the rhetoric of the war on terrorism. Muslims are targeted. Your "art" empowers problematic laws to be passed:
-Muslim travel ban
-banning hijab & burqa in Canadian provinces & Belgium, & France
-criminalizing Muslim women
-Muslim groups in concentration camps
(17/?)

These were inspired by America's war on "terrorism."
Stop assuming every Muslim is Arab. Our names can be Persian, Arabic, Turkic, etc—don’t make every Muslim culture Arabic. Or full of “oriental gypsy” depictions. Most Muslim-majority states don't wear abayas & thobes

(18/?)

Islam & Love: Muslim relationships are complex; many can fall in love with non-Muslims but most fall in love with Muslims. If your Muslim character is always with a white/non-Muslim, stop. If they’re secretly dating against their family’s wishes in fear of backlash, stop (19/?)

If arranged marriage in your eyes is being FORCED into it, that is NOT how Muslims arrange their marriages. We’re over a billion individuals, you think every single relationship was a woman being forced & unhappy? Rethink love & how you portray the nuclear family. (20/?)

JUST GIVE US SOME HALAL ROMANCE TOO OKAY? Please. Make it interracial, make it loving, consensual—there are so many beautiful halal love stories waiting to be heard. (21/?)

In stories, we need to portray an array of experiences. We’re talking about nearly 2 billion Muslims both in the Global South & the West, our lives are so different. We are in varying journies when it comes to faith. Stop assuming for us. I love Islam. I love its peace. (22/?)

Of course, oppressive states exist that scapegoat Islam, such as Saudi Arabia. Historically, we see it too through dictators in the late 1900s of my home country. But leaders are twisted, they’re power-hungry, they crack down on scholars & warp Islamic history & academics (23/?)

Leaders can manipulate the masses. Before you blame a religion, look at your own state and the rise of populism & undemocratic practices. The way people turned on each other: every society is capable of it. Exceptionalism is dangerous, rethink yours. (24/?)

SORRY FOR THE TYPOS
- I meant they are written by non Muslims who fall back on problematic biases * fml

Because I’m receiving questions, I’ll be doing a quick thread tmrw inshallah on what halal love is and book recommendations. The support here is overwhelming. I was going to delete this thread from anxiety & embarrassment because I was candid with my feelings. So thank you

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