On
July 15th, about twenty young professionals gathered together for lunch and intimate discussion about the varying perspectives of Muslim women in the world. In an effort to explore the diverse and complex identities of Muslim women living in the US and abroad, four Muslim women serving as summer interns for the National Council on US Arab Relations (NCUSAR) agreed to lead the roundtable, sharing their own stories and journeys as a starting point for the discussion.
Sara Aceves, Nesrien Hamid, Imaan Ali, and Salma Mousa reflected on their personal experiences in Virginia, DC, Norway, Egypt, Qatar, California, and other locations around the world. They discussed how societal expectations had an effect on their perosnal faith practices.
“These are the kinds of discussions that just don’t come up in normal conversation. It’s so freeing to find a setting where we can engage one another candidly while still being respectful,” expressed one of the panel attendees.
“I found that the discussion of the American narrative was quite interesting, especially because all of us agree that the American narrative is not exclusive, and therefore, Muslims are no less American than anyone else,” another participant noted.
Because of the small and comfortable setting, participants were able to express their own questions, doubts, and comments openly, as we covered topics from feminism to personal faith to interreligious understanding and misunderstanding. At the end of the roundtable, many lingered to continue our conversations. Hearing the women’s stories emphasized the individuality of each experience. Instead of seeking to find an answer to a religious debate or a political clash, participants explored one another, learning from our individual narratives.
Tags: Buxton Roundtable, Faten Al-Alawi, Muslim Women Project, National Council on US Arab Relations, NCUSAR, summer interns, The Buxton Initiative, young professional
This was a wonderful event!
I’m really glad you had a roundtable discussion on muslim women perspectives. I think in many cases people are scared to learn about a different religion or culture for fear of unintentionally being offensive. But the alternative – learning from books or other media – can only take you so far. You learn so much more when you can personally interact with others and ask questions, especially in a group setting. I hope the Buxton Initiative continues to host such amazing events.