Dear brothers: A letter to sexists, from Muslim women
#WomenThe hashtag used by writer Mona Eltahawy has sparked a debate about the sexism faced by Muslim women worldwide
Thousands of Muslim women have used the #DearSister hashtag to highlight the patriarchy and sexism that they face - specifically from within the Muslim world.
Mona Eltahawy, an Egyptian author, columnist and public speaker, started the debate after receiving an email from a Muslim man "lecturing" her about the views she holds as a Muslim woman. Eltahawy didn't share the contents of the email but later said it related to her "views on sex and the sexual revolution".
Eltahawy wrote: "I got an email from a Muslim man yesterday that I call the 'Dear Sister' Correspondence. I live for this kind of shit."
I got an email from a Muslim man yesterday that I call the "Dear Sister" Correspondence. I live for this kind of shit.
— Mona Eltahawy (@monaeltahawy) March 5, 2017
She later tweeted: “Fellow Muslim women using #DearSister, tell me what our dear brothers have told you.”
It was basically to lecture me about my views on sex & the sexual revolution, bec of course why not - I need lecture from a total stranger.
— Mona Eltahawy (@monaeltahawy) March 5, 2017
That sparked a vibrant discussion about the sexism faced specifically by Muslim women. Many emphasised that the problems they face stem from a deeply entrenched global phenomeon of sexism, not only due to their Islamic faith.
The #DearSister tweets prove how men misinterpret any ideology or faith to control the lives of women. Ego, not religion, is the problem.
— eemi (@eemanabbasi) March 5, 2017
#DearSister Islam stopped you from being buried alive but now I'll allow my patriarchy, culture & superiority complexes to bury your dreams.
— Wurishmeen (@Afgeezy97) March 5, 2017
#DearSister isn't a trend for us to bash our BEAUTIFUL religion. Sisters are simply shining light on the hypocritical things men say.
— Nadia Yasmin (@nadiaxyas) March 6, 2017
...while other users talked about the different standards to which men and women are held, particularly with regards to the skills they are expected to perfect:
#DearSister you should not be in higher Education , yet when his wife is in labour he DEMANDS for a female doctor #culturenotreligion
— Nazia Mumtaz (@MumtazNazia) March 6, 2017
#DearSister I'm going to be an incompetent son without any household skills but god forbid if a woman can't cook...
— nalisa alia amin (@nalisaaa) March 6, 2017
#dearsister if you don't want to get raped then you should keep covered. You know how men are.
— carmen (@imignoored) March 6, 2017
Some also pointed out the multi-faceted struggle faced by Muslim women, who are confronted by Islamophobic sexism as well as misogyny and sexism...
#DearSister ht tells how Muslim women deal with Islamophobia, misogyny and patriarchy all at once
— Farhiya Adan (@farhiyaadan21) March 5, 2017
...but although the campaign was specifically about Muslim women, it also highlighted the misogyny that has become a regular struggle for women generally...
#DearSister I will respect you for how attractive I find you, and disrespect you depending on how you respond to that.
— Nur Al-Abrar (@southiraqi) March 5, 2017
#DearSister I will respect you for how attractive I find you, and disrespect you depending on how you respond to that.
— Nur Al-Abrar (@southiraqi) March 5, 2017
