The woman with dark hair, wide hips, and a few extra pounds has always been the essence of beauty in Morocco. Fatema Mernissi beautydarkessence Change image and share on social
The Taliban is the Muslim version of the Salem witch trials. Fatema Mernissi muslimsalemtaliban Change image and share on social
If, by chance, you were to meet me at the Casablanca airport or on a boat sailing from Tangiers, you would think me self-confident, but I am not. Even now, at my age, I am frightened when crossing borders because I am afraid of failing to understand strangers. Fatema Mernissi afraidageairport share on social
To me, the Quran is a research book. Fatema Mernissi bookquranresearch Change image and share on social
So much of Islam is Judeo-Christianity. It's impossible to divorce them. Islam is 600 years after Christ. Thousands of years after Judaism. Christ, Moses, Abraham - they are all in the Koran. Fatema Mernissi abrahamchristchristianity Change image and share on social
I go to the hamam and put henna on my skin and hair. Even when I go to New York, I let the shower run hot to create a steam hamam at my hotel. But when I finish with the bath, I put on expensive French creams. Fatema Mernissi bathcreamcreate share on social
The modern Muslim state has never presented itself as secular. Muslim nationalist forces, trapped by a militant and colonialist West unable to share or export its humanism, were driven to build up a rampart, to entrench themselves within the past. Fatema Mernissi buildcolonialistdrive share on social
The Western man declares that in order to be beautiful, a woman must look 14 years old. If she dares to look 50, or worse, 60, she is beyond the pale. By putting the spotlight on the female child and framing her as the ideal of beauty, he condemns the mature woman to invisibility. Fatema Mernissi badlybeautifulbeauty share on social
Growing up, I was taught that a woman should lower her gaze so that men could never know her thoughts. The so-called modesty of Arab women is, in fact, a war tactic. Fatema Mernissi arabcallfact Change image and share on social
There, they tell me to wear the veil. Here, they are telling me to put my hips in a little girl's skirt, and I am this lovely full woman. You've got this Ph.D. and you're worrying, 'Am I skinny enough?' Fatema Mernissi fullgirlhave share on social