On the evening of September 19, 2016 I sat down with one of my female Muslim peers, Ameena. We discussed numerous topics, and I’ve compiled a list of quotes from her, organized by major discussion points. For the sake of her privacy, I have only referred to her by her first name. For the sake of being fancy, I have written this part in italics. On wearing her hijab: “I’ll have people say to me ‘You’re in the U.S.; you don’t have to wear that.’” “It’s not a game to take it on and off.” “I feel naked without it.” On dying her hair purple: “No one’s gonna see it but I know it’s there and I think it’s really cool.” On how she feels about others approaching her about her faith: “It depends on the tone. If you’re sassy I won’t want to talk to you. I mean… right?!” “‘I don’t want to offend you, but’ is usually how people approach questioning me… I have a prepared list of things I think they’ll ask when they start out like that. My list is usually right. ‘What kind of Muslim are you? Where are you from? Why do you wear that on your head?’” On being a Muslim woman: “As a woman in general, I feel I’m not going to be heard as much as a man.” “I don’t know where I stand when it comes to feminism and my religion. I think there should be an equality to both [genders.] One’s not better than the other.” On her mom: “My mom’s chill.” On being part of a Muslim community in the United States: “Because of the country I’m in-- because of America-- I can speak out more about my religion within the same faith, but because I’m in America I feel I can’t speak out with other religions because everyone here is… I don’t want to say cliquey… everyone here is in their own bubble.” “In any community, there’s gossip.” “I should probably learn more [about Islam.] I need to.” “I don’t see myself converting; there’s something that I feel connected to in Islam. I don’t know what it is, but I hope I figure it out.” “I’m not supposed to have a dog in my house or pictures on my walls, but because of growing up in America and what I’m used to, I DO have a dog and pictures on my wall.” On having a quarter for every crazy question she’s gotten asked and then becoming rich: “If I had a quarter for every crazy question I got asked, I’d be rich today. It’d be so nice.” On life: “I’m really getting into Indian food. My boyfriend’s Indian. We cook together. I don’t really know how to cook, and he doesn’t cook for me really…we just figure it out together.” “So I like the ‘Star Wars’ movies. I was worried about the seventh movie, but it came out nice. I’m a sci-fi nerd. That is me. I don’t talk about it much with people because I thought people would be like ‘what the heck.’ Anyway, I can’t remember what my favorite movie is. I think it had something to do with Cinderella and Drew Barrymore.” “Procrastination is real. The struggle is real. I suck at time management.” “Ice breakers are annoying. Like what do you mean you want to know something interesting about me? Like something from today? Last week? You tell me. OH YEAH... my favorite movie is ‘Ever After.’ That’s right. If I’m ever in the mood for romance, that’s my go-to. Otherwise I hate rom-coms. I hate sweet stuff… But ‘Ever After’ just gets me.” “… oh yeah, technically I’m not supposed to date.” On Weezy F. Baby: “Honestly, I’m not a big fan of Lil Wayne. Some people go ‘WHAT?!’ when I say that. Whatever.” On reflection of society: “One thing I’d want people to know is that people in a church, synagogue, mosque, what have you, are similar. We all love each other.” “I wish more people just wanted to chill and have a cup of tea or coffee-- or water, if you don’t like the other stuff-- and just talk about the world.”
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