It's Not About The Burqa (adult nonfiction)

     "When was the last time you heard a Muslim woman speak for herself without a filter? Or outside the white gaze? On her own terms? Or outside the narrative built around us by the media and governments? If Muslim women are to progress in society, if they are to be treated with respect, then it's important that we challenge the narrative built around us."

     Miriam Khan, editor of It's Not About The Burqa, did more than recommend that Muslim women create their narrative. She gave them a space in which to do so. The book brings together Muslim women's voices. It doesn't represent the experiences of all Muslim women or claim to cover every issue faced by Muslim women. The contributors and the subjects are indeed diverse. 

*In Too Loud, Swears Too Much, and Goes Too Far columnist, international public speaker and activist, Mona Eltahawy, describes how Muslim women are caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place. On one hand are the racist Islamaphobes who attack Muslim men for subjugating women. On the other are the Islamic men who silence Muslim women to control the narrative. Both ignore Muslim women. Not surprisingly, Eltahowy, who considers the title of her essay a compliment, urges revolution. 

*In There's No Such Thing As A Depressed Muslim researcher and mental health advocate, Jamilla Hekmoun, discusses the stigma that prevents many Muslims from acknowledging mental illness symptoms and seeking help and the enormous toll this takes. 

*In Life Was Easier Before I Was Woke  mechanical engineer, Yassmin Midhat Abdel-Magied, discusses the illusion shattering experience of working in the "hyper-masculine" working environment of an off shore oil rig.

    This is not a book to rush through or tackle when you're preoccupied with something else, especially if you (like me) are not a Muslim. It is best read with an attitude of curiosity, openness, and contemplation. If you open it with this mindset It's Not About the Burqa is a rich and rewarding, very worthwhile read.

On a purrrsonal note, I had a purrrfect day Sunday. Eugene and I drove to Cape Elizabeth to visit Katie, Jacob, Adam, and Archie (Katie and Jacob's super loveable, handsome cat 🐈 😻). It had been a year since we'd been there. The kids went all out to make sure we had a good time. We went out for breakfast and lunch. We went shopping. I found some really good bargains at the South Portland Goodwill. We drove to a really big antiques mall. We hung out and talked. Everyone admired the Squishmallow blanket I'd just finished. It was so special spending time together. Eugene bought supper on the way home. 

A great big shout out goes out to my amazing family. 

Jules Hathaway 

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