Under the Scarf: A Short Film
An empathy to action film campaign in response to the tragic events in New Zealand, and the ongoing global violence against marginalized communities.
ABOUT THE FILM:
Mehrin, like any other teenage girl tries to navigate her way through high school. Once the scarf is on, she’s deemed a stereotype. This film is one of four short social impact documentaries created co-produced by GlobalGirl Media + Women’s Voices Now, summer 2018.
CREATED BY: Ana Antuna, Mehrin Ashraf, Michelle Leon, Cheyenne Williams
UNDER THE SCARF SCREENING GUIDE AND CALLS TO ACTION
Pre-Film Reflection Questions:
- When it comes to the Muslim community, what kind of stereotypes do I encounter in the news and on the street?
- Do I fear people who look differently than myself or hold belief systems other than my own? If so, what am I afraid of?
- How often do I interact with people who do not come from my everyday community?
Post-film Discussion Questions:
- In the film Mehrin states, “When I wear hijab I can feel so many people being uncomfortable, even if they don’t mean to be…I always feel like I’m going to let someone down because I’m wearing a hijab. I feel extra responsible for everything that I do.” What do you think Mehrin means when she says this?
- While Mehrin talks about certain advantages to living in the United States, she also questions how the country can claim to be free amidst discrimination against immigrants, including the Muslim Ban. What does freedom mean to you? What does freedom look like in our schools, in our places of worship, and in our communities?
- How, by hearing stories first hand, can we create empathy between people that are different from one another?
- Has this film changed your perception of anyone in your life, including yourself?
- Can you think of a time where you were uncomfortable around someone because they seemed different from you? What were your underlying feelings and how might you act differently now?
- What can you do to be more inclusive to those who may seem to be different from you or the people you know?
- SHARE THIS CAMPAIGN, copy/paste:
On Twitter and Facebook:
Look #UndertheScarf, watch a short doc by #femaleyouth on being a young #woman, #Muslim & #immigrant in #America seeking #identity & #inclusivity. #DefyHate, join the #empathytoactionfilmclub #womensvoicesnow #bethechange @WomensVoicesNow @globalgirlmedia https://bit.ly/2ujfAwk
On Instagram:
Take a look #UndertheScarf, watch a short doc by #female #youth on being a young #woman, a #Muslim, and an #immigrant in #America seeking #identity & #inclusivity. #DefyHate, join the #empathytoactionfilmclub #womensvoicesnow #bethechange @Womens_Voices_Now @GlobalGirl Media https://bit.ly/2ujfAwk
2. HOST A SCREENING OF THIS FILM using this screening guide:
At your church/temple/mosque
At Home
At Your School
At Your Community Center
3. Check out interfaith dialogue organizations in the RESOURCES section below.
4. VISIT A MOSQUE— Download this app
- Expand your circle of friends — if you don’t have any Muslim friends, make some.
5. SIGN UP for the Women’s Voices Now newsletter to receive monthly updates and #empathytoactionfilmclub campaigns (click on Sign-up on the homepage.)
Organizations that foster interfaith dialogue and intercommunal dialogue:
- New Ground — A Muslim Jewish Partnership for Change
- Connecting Actions
- Peace Heals — Interfaith Dialogue Project
Organizations that support Muslim youth:
Documents and Reading Materials:
- ACLU Fact Sheet: Discrimination against Muslim Women
- ACLU Downloadable PDF: Know Your Rights: Discrimination Against Immigrants and Muslims (Available in English, Arabic, Spanish, Farsi, Indonesiean and Urdu)
Petition to Sign:
ACLU — DHS: STOP HARASSING AIRPORT TRAVELERS LIKE ZAINAB
ABOUT WOMEN’S VOICES NOW:
Women’s Voices Now (WVN), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, advocates women’s rights by using the power of social impact film to influence media and culture. We carry out our mission with a free streaming archive of international women’s rights based films, our annual online film festival, educational programs, screening events, our digital publication, multimedia workshops and trainings, and a film fiscal sponsorship program.
As a non-governmental organization with special consultative status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) since 2017, our work is internationally recognized as impacting the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs): increasing good health and well being (SDG3); providing quality education (SDG4); promoting gender equality (SDG5); working toward reduced inequalities (SDG10); establishing peace, justice and strong institutions (SDG16); and establishing partnerships to achieve the SDGs (SDG17).
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