Announcing a call for personal stories by American Muslim women and their relationships with the Hijab; these stories will be published in a book in the form of an anthology. This book is an opportunity for Muslim women to give their own narratives regarding Hijab and their relationship to it. For too long others have been speaking for the Muslim women and how they feel or ought to feel, whether they should or should not cover, how liberating or oppressive the hijab is. Share your personal story and let others know first hand how a Muslim woman feels about her own hijab.
Who are you? What brought you to wearing it? What is your process of considering to wear it or no longer wear it? What brought you to taking it off? Why do you choose to wear it with that particular style? What influences (personal, social, political, cultural, pop-culture, and religious) have shaped your understanding of hijab and how it has manifested in your life? How do other’s thoughts and stereotypes affect your relationship? We want you to describe, in detail, creatively your relationship with hijab.
This book will allow women to dispel stereotypes seen in media with our own humorous, dramatic, and engaging voices. Through our pieces, women are able to disable people from painting Muslim women in a monolithic brush. We hope to show the humanness and the complexities and nuanced experiences of the woman who has a relationship with the Hijab.
We are requesting that only American Muslim women who wear Hijab, have previously worn Hijab, or are contemplating wearing it submit for this call. We also request that the writing, although non-fiction, be written in a story format, written creatively and not so much an academic or historical essay.
SUBMISSION RULES: Work submitted must be non-fiction and autobiographical. Author must self-identify as an American Muslim Woman.
WORD COUNT: Word count for submissions must be between 1500 – 4000 words, double-spaced.
DETAILS: Please send your commitment to submit in the body of your email to hijabulous2012@gmail.com by June 1, 2012. Please remember to include:
· Name (full name)
· Age
· Location
· Contact information (e-mail address/phone number)
· Background (ethnic/racial and what Islamic sect you identify with)
· Please indicate whether you are a Hijabi, non-Hijabi, contemplating wearing a Hijab, convertible hijabi
Whether Muslim by birth or conversion
DEADLINE: Final story draft due by July 31, 2012. Please attach as a Word document.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
For inquiries/ submissions: contact Sabeen Shaiq or Sabina Khan-Ibarra at hijabulous2012@gmail.com
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