Review: It’s not about the burqa

“It’s Not About the Burqa” is a book edited by Mariam Khan, which features essays written by Muslim women from diverse backgrounds but who have some experience living in the West. In these essays, they express their perspectives on faith, feminism, identity, and the challenges they face regarding others’ ideas about them. The main idea of this book is to allow women to speak about their lives, a shift from the public perception of Muslim women as oppressed, which allows everyone to discuss them and give their opinion about their lives as if they were a third party without decision-making power.

So, it’s a book that challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about Muslim women, offering their experiences, struggles, and triumphs in society. Additionally, it’s very enlightening to delve into the personal narratives of the writers who speak about difficulties they have experienced, from racism, Islamophobia, sexism, to cultural expectations. Moreover, they provide another perspective on their lives by addressing their own stories on more taboo topics such as sexuality and queerness.

In addition to all of the above, I really liked this book for several reasons, such as the diversity of the writers as they all come from different ethnic, cultural, professional, and social backgrounds. Furthermore, it challenges stereotypes by providing a more realistic and nuanced view of their lives, beliefs, and aspirations. This should be obvious, considering we’re talking about a large population of people; however, in the public opinion, they are still represented as a very general stereotype. So, seeing these nuances and experiences is good for presenting their diversity in the media. As I said before, it tackles complex issues through personal experiences, which allows for a more intimate connection with the writer even though there may be significant differences in identity. It’s possible to connect as a woman beyond religion, or as a person experiencing different oppressions, and the reader can realize that, beyond certain identity characteristics, there are shared experiences. Additionally, I really appreciated the criticism it makes of “white” or mainstream feminism, and it’s possible to notice how this movement has neglected many women who suffer other types of oppression due to their skin color, religion, ethnic origin, and sexual identity, among others.

This is how the book contributes to feminist dialogue by highlighting the intersections between feminism and Muslim identity, challenging perceptions of feminism, and promoting a more inclusive and diverse understanding of this movement.