Its Not About The Burqa

When was the last time you heard a Muslim woman speak for herself without a filter? Shortlistedfor Foyles Non-Fiction Book of the Year.
'Engrossing . . . fascinating . . . courageous' –Observer When writer Mariam Khan found herself increasingly frustrated with a national discourse that marginalized Muslim womens voices, she decided it was time for something new. Why was she only hearing about Muslim women from other people? Why werent Muslim women given the chance to speak for themselves? Its Not About the Burqais poised to change all that. Here are voices you wont see represented in the headlines: seventeen Muslim women speaking frankly about the hijab and wavering faith, about love and divorce, about feminism, queer identity, sex, and the twin threats of a disapproving community and a racist country. These essays are funny, warm, sometimes sad, and often angry, and each is a passionate declaration calling time on oppression, lazy stereotyping, misogyny and Islamophobia. What does it mean, exactly, to be a Muslim woman in the West today? According to the media, its all about the burqa. Heres what its really about.