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Introducing altmuslimah Exploring both sides of the gender divide
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Editor-in-Chief
Philadelphia, PA
Executive Editor
London, England
Publisher
Austin, TX
Associate Editor
Los Angeles, CA
Associate Editor
Portland, OR
Associate Editor
Washington, DC
Associate Editor
Voorhees, NJ
Associate Editor
Mt. Laurel, NJ
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Launched on March 8, 2009, Altmuslimah.com provides a space for compelling comment on gender in Islam from both the male and female, Muslim and non-Muslim, perspectives. "Gender in Islam" has multiple dimensions and evokes a wide multitude of emotions: fear, confusion, defiance, love. Altmuslimah explores all of these dimensions and provides a platform for intra- and inter-community dialogue on a wide variety of gender-related issues. In particular, it looks at the intersection of female and male sexuality and gender identity with society, politics, economics, and culture.
The mode of exploration is a combination of analysis and personal stories. The editors at Altmuslimah are firm believers in the power of narratives to help explain social phenomena. By uncovering the stories of a wide cross-section of men and women in the community, Altmuslimah helps bring into sharper focus the gender issues that affect both men and women.
To learn more about Altmuslimah, please check out our introductory article.
Find out about our photographic campaign here.
ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS
We encourage you to submit pieces - videos, podcasts, articles, photography, and blogs - that touch upon Muslim identity formation; gender relations and the construction of sexuality; or current events, in America and abroad, that are related to gender. Consider, for example, the following topics:
- Does a Muslim country's fashion industry, movie business, and art scene conform or deviate from stereotypical understandings of gender in Islam?
- What does women's political empowerment mean to Muslim women? Is that perspective defined vis-a-vis men, or independently?
- How early in Islamic education or Sunday School should we be talking about gender?
- How does the reality of poor women having to work affect their religious worldview on gender as compared to middle or upper-class women?
- How does racism impact women's and men's self image; how does it impact marriages and in-law relationships?
While submissions may be personal or academic, in the first person or third person, we ask that all submissions, except blog pieces, conform to our style guide. You can see the style guide and submit your article for consideration here.
REPUBLICATION POLICY
If you would like to republish one of our articles, please contact us at asma.uddin(at)altmuslimah.com. If given permission, please note either at the beginning or end of the reprint that the piece was originally published at Altmuslimah and please include a link back to the article on altmuslimah.com.
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Editors' blog
Conceptions of sexuality among American Muslim women - Ten AltMuslimah members/readers gathered on Sunday, February 21, 2010, with the goal of discussing the nature of Muslim women’s sexuality, and how American Muslim women’s social needs may be different. Whether formal or casual, the group agreed in the value of women’s support networks, especially considering the rising prevalence of domestic violence in our communities. A quick brainstorm of ideas brought up the possibility of periodic casual women’s nights, which are actually common in more active American Muslim communities. (March 1, 2010) ( 1 comment) |
News briefs for week of March 1, 2010 - This week Washington, D.C. women storm the men’s section of a local mosque, a women in hijab is fired from her retail position in California, a women’s terrorist group is said to be uncovered in Egypt, Malaysia looks to hold a conference on women’s caning, Pakistani women’s clothing is highlighted, and Iran’s first female Olympic skier is profiled. (March 1, 2010) ( 0 comments) |
News briefs for week of February 22, 2010 - Saudi religious police crackdown on Valentine's Day merchandise, Three Malaysian women are caned for extramarital sex, Saudi to permit female lawyers to argue cases, New Jersey Muslim man throws baby over a bridge, and Baltimore sixth-graders go on a field trip to an Islamic center. (February 22, 2010) ( 0 comments) |
News briefs for week of February 15, 2010 - This week, death threats for dehijabing in Spain, a ballet showcasing Muslim women’s historical accomplishments, France continues the burqa ban debate, a Pakistani woman is recognized in California, Muslim scholars question full-body scanning and Obama names an envoy to the Muslim world. (February 15, 2010) ( 0 comments) |
News briefs for week of February 8, 2010 - This week, a study finds that abstinence-focused sex education in American schools can persuade youth to delay sexual activity, sixteen-year-old Turkish girl buried alive for talking to boys, French authorities deny citizenship to man who forces his wife to wear a full veil, and female government leaders have done little to advance women's rights in Southeast and South Asia. (February 8, 2010) ( 2 comments) |
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Readers' blog
Will you be my (halal) Valentine? - Why does Valentine’s Day spark such contentious debate among American Muslims across blogs and social networking sites? What underlying emotional buttons does this commercialized cultural holiday push among American Muslims? While other holidays, such as Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, generate a few tired and tepid discussions centered around the idea that “everyday should be Mother’s and Father’s Day,” Valentine’s Day, like the very concept of romantic love it celebrates, generates much more passionate responses. These debates touch on many topics including what love means or should mean to Muslims, the relationship between culture and religion, and the current state of romantic relationships among Muslims. (February 22, 2010) ( 1 comment) |
Living up to the legacy - By historical account, being a Muslim female meant being virtuous, loving, knowledgeable, and empowered by her faith. Well it’s centuries later and although we cite to the legacy of Islam, we fail to live up to it or keep the legacy alive. (February 4, 2010) ( 1 comment) |
Bridging literacy and cultural gaps in Pakistan - In addition to bridging cultural and socioeconomic gaps, the American International School System in Pakistan acts as an experimental model and incubator by incorporating some of the education reform principles advocated by grassroots organizations, education specialists and writers, and governmental agencies like the Ministry of Education. (January 3, 2010) ( 1 comment) |
Islam and manhood - The infamy of Islamist terrorism over the past decade has created an image of the Muslim man as intrinsically prone to violent behavior, even if directed toward the self rather than the other. The image of the angry, flag-burning, chanting Muslim man has come to symbolize male violence. However the photos fail to explain that, firstly, the anger, in many instances, is justified, secondly, that the chants rarely spill over into to physical violence, and thirdly that violence is not exclusive to Muslim men. (December 25, 2009) ( 5 comments) |
It’s not about the niqab, it’s about credibility - The question, which we all should consider now is why Al-Azhar scholars are not obeyed by the public any more? The simple and direct answer to this very complicated question is because Al-Azhar lost its credibility in the eyes of Egyptians. (October 17, 2009) ( 4 comments) |
One woman’s journey toward pleasing Allah - Understanding the purpose and reasoning behind abaya is not something a Muslim girl learns the day she is born. For many, like myself, it was a slow and steady journey; one that required much research and reflection. (September 25, 2009) ( 4 comments) |
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