Help strengthen the Melbournian Sisterhood

[cheesegirl]

I really dont know why people get so defensive about such stereotypes:

Maybe because they aren't true?

1- What's wrong with not having a secular education?

A lot of things. But specificity, in the context of Australian society:

1. It is below the typical standard. The typically expected standard in our society is at least high school (or something like that). It would look terrible if Muslim women didn't also have this, as if we are somehow dumber than the rest of society. And they is no reason why we shouldn't have this either - Islam promotes acquisition of both religious and secular knowledge.

2. A person is so disadvantaged if they don't have at least some level of high school. Poor reading/writing skills, poor communication skills, poor analysis skills, poor rational thinking skills, poor understanding of the world around you (history/science and other things) etc. Again, not something to be proud off.

3. The assumption that comes with the stereotype - that Muslim women are stupid/ignorant, good for nothing and forbidden from studying by the male figures in their life.

2- What's wrong with not speaking english?

Nothing - if you weren't raised in an English speaking country. But I'm surprised that you wouldn't find it at least a little annoying for people to automatically assume that you can't speak English because you're Muslim!! Especially for someone like myself, being born and raised in this country!

3- Forced to wear hijab.. Parents and Husbands have a duty to protect and guide their children.. I dont think many parents would be so defensive if someone said: How dare you force your kids not to take drugs! .. Double standard

That doesn't work in Australia, at all. But that's for a different thread.

Anyway, the problem with the stereotype is that NO I don't wear this because I'm forced by my apparently evil father/husband (you can at least see why that kind of stereotype, about women-hating misogynistic Muslim men is offensive, right?) but because I WANT to wear it!!

4-What's wrong with being a good housewife and raising many kids at a young age?! Nothing..

10 kids by the age of thirty? I'd be very worried for the womans health - mental and physical! Anyway, whoever said the stereotype has anything with being a good mum and wanting to have lots of kids?

Anyway the point of the stereotypes are not that they are offensive in and of themselves (because many of them aren't technically things to be ashamed of, such as not being able to speak English) but the arrogant, ill-intending attitude that comes with it! This assumption that Muslim men are evil and that Muslim women are uneducated, ignorant and oppressed!

[naqabi]

I must say I'm hugely insulted by that statement as well. Muslim women are the best, most honourable of all humankind, just by being mothers, wives and daughters, they don't need careers and jobs to be successful in this duniya or the Aakhira. A woman who dies in a state that her husband is pleased with her will enter Jannah, it's a pretty simple equation for success and I honestly don't see why women need to complicate their lives so much.

[um mohamed]

Yeah anyways I dont really know where all these posts are going... all i kow is that any Muslim females that work, should register their details.
And once they put out the listing, use it as an Islamic yellow pages.
This way you know that any money that leaves your hands will be going towards other Muslims, and inturn probably coming back to you or your family.
Why not? It's just like a Muslim women's yellow pages.

Also I dont know if it's on the website or not but they're planning to have training sessions (business and religious training sessions).

The idea isn't to put down women that don't work, it's to increase the business of Muslim women (with God's permission). I mean I only work like 15 hours a week, I consider myself a stay-at-home mum more than a 'working' woman and I see both sides of all arguments brought up.

[Sunshine]

A little off subject but definitely related.. Mercy Mission are currently looking for projects to support Muslim women in Melbourne and will be holding a sisters forum in November to discuss this matter.

Some suggestions have already been raised..but if anyone has ideas of what is lacking in Melbourne by way of support for Muslim women.. insha'Allah please do pm me with your ideas and I'll raise them at the meeting.

We are looking for small projects initially, but with potential to grow and develop and definitely ones that will impact the widest selection of women.. be they born Muslim, reverts, single, married etc.

We are also very happy to work with other organisations and supporting existing projects as well as working with Muslimahs to help 'kick start" new projects.

So please send us your ideas insha'Allah

Jazak Allah khair

do you have the link? I am really interested!

[thRilNs]

What ever happened to just being content with the simple things.

It starts off with wanting more money, then more stuff, then wanting more people loving you for having so much stuff, then life becomes a competition for success in the dunya, rather than success in the akhira. meh.

[carol_au]

do you have the link? I am really interested!

As salaamu alaikum sister

I missed this when you replied..I'm so sorry.

Can you pm me your ideas and I'll take them to the sisters and to the Mercy Mission CEO.. that's all we need at the moment .. your ideas. We can work with you then to help your ideas come to fruition insha'Allah, if the ideas are accepted as projects.

again I'm sorry I missed your request earlier. Insha'Allah we can still act on your ideas.

Jazaki Allahu khair

[convertgirl]

Submission I'm with you

[carol_au]

What about if you're not a mother yet.....?

(Just bringing this up for discussion.. )

All the best reasons to get involved in volunteer work for the many muslim organisations.. and you don't need to attend meetings.

If you have a computer at home and internet connection.. you can do many many things from home that use your skills and talents and earn you rewards and assst the Muslim community ..

No children and no distractions mean you can be a huge help.. and better still.. it keeps your skills current cos many jobs now and even training organisations recognize experience as volunteers.

When you then have children you can reduce but keep your involvement.

personally I didn't work in the paid workforce for almost 20 years and walked into a job three years ago based on my voluntary work experience.. which has grown from there alhamdulillah.

[tinuviel]

Salaam,

To all my sisters in Islam. I received this e-mail, please check out the website and forward to all your connections.

It seems like a good idea, insha'Allah it takes off and does well that way we know we're supporting eachother in every possible way.

W'salam

what e-mail?