Halfway Hijabi
01/18/2018 08:37 AM
Another wonder extra credit opportunity!
My name is Alyiah Al-Bonijim and I am a student at the University. Last year, my roommate and I created an event called “Halfway Hijabi: Hijabi Monologues” after the presidential elections in response to the escalation of hate crimes towards Muslim women who wear the head veil, or “hijab”. This year, Ayah Kutmah and I will be holding this event again. Similar to “Vagina Monologues” or “Mental Health Monologues”, the event will consist of a series of hijabi speakers who share their experiences through some sort of monologue piece (i.e. poetry, speech, music, etc). The direct visibility of being Muslim often means that hijabi women face the harsher brunt of Islamophobia and xenophobia. Additionally, within the controversial discussions of the hijab and Islam, the viewpoints and opinions of the Muslim women who wear the are rarely taken into account. Rather, we are spoken over, about, or for by those who do not understand the reasons behind and experiences of wearing the hijab.
Like every marginalized identity, there also comes an assumption of a homogenous and standard experience every hijabi endures. Muslim women who wear the hijab come from different walks of life, varying in race, ethnicity, sexuality, economic status, political ideologies, and so on. Ergo, this event was created in an effort to reclaim our voices within these narratives and discourses, as well as stress the intersectionality between other portions of our identities and the hijab. It was also created for others who do not understand those experiences, to have an opportunity to learn more about what wearing the hijab entails or means to us. With that being said, we cordially invite you to attend the event on February 16th, 2017, from 7-10PM in the Amphitheatre Auditorium in Rackham. Entry is free and refreshments will be served following the monologues.
Additionally, we kindly ask for your staff and student support (financial and/or otherwise) in promoting and sponsoring this event. We hope that, through this event, we can bridge the gap in understanding as well as create a comfortable space for those of any and all backgrounds. I have attached below a flyer, as well as the link for the Facebook event page, for advertising purposes for this event, if you are able to share it to others in your respective departments. Thank you in advance for taking the time and consideration in reading this invite, as well as for any type of support you choose to offer. Please let us know if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, and we hope to see you there!
Facebook Event Page Link:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1497595403692137/
Best,
Alyiah (alyiaha@umich.edu) and Ayah (akutmah@umich.edu)
My name is Alyiah Al-Bonijim and I am a student at the University. Last year, my roommate and I created an event called “Halfway Hijabi: Hijabi Monologues” after the presidential elections in response to the escalation of hate crimes towards Muslim women who wear the head veil, or “hijab”. This year, Ayah Kutmah and I will be holding this event again. Similar to “Vagina Monologues” or “Mental Health Monologues”, the event will consist of a series of hijabi speakers who share their experiences through some sort of monologue piece (i.e. poetry, speech, music, etc). The direct visibility of being Muslim often means that hijabi women face the harsher brunt of Islamophobia and xenophobia. Additionally, within the controversial discussions of the hijab and Islam, the viewpoints and opinions of the Muslim women who wear the are rarely taken into account. Rather, we are spoken over, about, or for by those who do not understand the reasons behind and experiences of wearing the hijab.
Like every marginalized identity, there also comes an assumption of a homogenous and standard experience every hijabi endures. Muslim women who wear the hijab come from different walks of life, varying in race, ethnicity, sexuality, economic status, political ideologies, and so on. Ergo, this event was created in an effort to reclaim our voices within these narratives and discourses, as well as stress the intersectionality between other portions of our identities and the hijab. It was also created for others who do not understand those experiences, to have an opportunity to learn more about what wearing the hijab entails or means to us. With that being said, we cordially invite you to attend the event on February 16th, 2017, from 7-10PM in the Amphitheatre Auditorium in Rackham. Entry is free and refreshments will be served following the monologues.
Additionally, we kindly ask for your staff and student support (financial and/or otherwise) in promoting and sponsoring this event. We hope that, through this event, we can bridge the gap in understanding as well as create a comfortable space for those of any and all backgrounds. I have attached below a flyer, as well as the link for the Facebook event page, for advertising purposes for this event, if you are able to share it to others in your respective departments. Thank you in advance for taking the time and consideration in reading this invite, as well as for any type of support you choose to offer. Please let us know if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, and we hope to see you there!
Facebook Event Page Link:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1497595403692137/
Best,
Alyiah (alyiaha@umich.edu) and Ayah (akutmah@umich.edu)