"Tapping Our Strength"

This non-fiction piece also came from Shattering the Stereotypes. Many of the works are from Muslim or Middle Eastern women and their experiences in America. This one is (even though my single story is about Middle Eastern women), but I think it is really important to discuss. The author, Eisa Nefertari Ulen, discusses feminism and Islam. She addresses the stereotype that women who wear any of the veils associated with Islam (burka, hijab, chador, and others) are a sign of oppression. She brings up that contrary to common belief, the Qur'an does not give into the sexist idea that Eve was the sinner who should get all of the blame, but rather both Adam and Eve are to blame. Sexism is not to be associated with Islam, the culture yes but America has the same problem.
She continues and also talks about sex. This part blew my mind and it quite humorous. She brings up the fact that woman openly "campaigned" for more foreplay when decades ago Islam called for the equality of physical pleasure in marriages, and if a man brings a woman to orgasm, he receives a blessing from Allah.
She also discusses female mutilation, which apparently many people worldwide do to "celebrate Islam," but the author tells her audience that she is trying to raise awareness about it and that it wasn't originally part of the Islmaic ways, but she compares it to female mutilation such as plastic surgery. She makes it a point that no mutilation of the body for such purposes are reasonable. She discusses fashion and other things that Americans and other cultures do to fit in the misogynistic culture. She compares bras and hijabs- that women sometimes wear them for the wrong reasons: "to please men" (48). She encourages women to dress and act for themselves. She tells readers that Non-Muslim women need to stop considering women who wear the headdresses as oppressed  and Muslim women need to accept that women of any culture can wear whatever they want. Once this is accomplished the conversation of change can move on. 
She reminds her readers that everyone has gone through hard ship and that cross cultural bridges need to be made to stop the oppression and stereotypes of others. . She The memories of pain that people have faced (even internal struggles) can bring cultures together.