The Muslim faith is problematic to feminism, as it's attitude towards women is based on restriction and control. It's all well and good for Western society to 'tisk tisk' what we perceive as morally abhorrent, patriarchal oppression, but we forget that Muslim women have a voice too, and that we, as non Muslim women, cannot assume to understand or justly represent this voice without the bias of our own beliefs and cultures.Pelangi's work treads the middle ground with poise and dignity. It embraces Islam with wholehearted affection, and unlike many Western readings of the religion, does not alienate Muslim women by dictating that their belief system is wrong or that it treats them badly. Instead, it opens up an all inclusive discourse whereby Muslim women can not only openly love their culture and simultaneously participate in fashion (which, let's face it, is dominated by a largely white, blonde, middle class liberal and highly sexual aesthetic), but where Western women can approach Islam without trepidation, and (as horrible as I feel saying this, but it is largely a home truth, no matter how tolerant you think you are) regard Muslim women as equals and respect their religious choices.
Here, social barriers and prejudice are being broken down by the very medium that at first created them, and I wonder why we don't spend more time fighting for this cause than worrying about Karl Largerfeld's people skills, Stephanie Carta's weight or Peaches Geldof in general.
Here, social barriers and prejudice are being broken down by the very medium that at first created them, and I wonder why we don't spend more time fighting for this cause than worrying about Karl Largerfeld's people skills, Stephanie Carta's weight or Peaches Geldof in general.
