Racist Media & the Complicit Audience

I have always been interested in how the media, and society influences the individual, and while watching the Rio Olympics female beach volleyball tournament, I was flabbergasted by how so many people, programs, and online publications were discussing the Egyptian team’s attire, and disappointed at how it negatively stood out amongst the usual non-existent bikini clad athletes that were competing in the event.

The athletes dress generated so much hype, and many reactions both negative and positive surfaced, and sadly but surely in my eyes, media coverage proved sexism and racism are alive and well…

Headlines, statements and comments plastered everywhere — “The Burka wearing Ninjas”, “Very encouraging to see fellow hijabis tackling the status quo and playing sport”, and “We all know who the Egyptian men will be watching”. Just to name a few left me ABSOLUTELY furious…

Have you ever felt judged because of your identity…? I’m brilliant at emitting a strong aura of “no hoots given,” but the real softness of me is there for anyone to see in the intricate folds of my hijab surrounding – for me, this was the last straw. I am furious. I’m over reading headlines of the media “bashing” Islam and calling us women oppressed for covering up… I see it as the complete opposite — I see the western woman as oppressed for having to wear those skimpy bikinis — because that’s what society expects of them.

I was born and raised in Australia, my mother and father were very involved in the Muslim community, and although I was modestly dressed, but never entirely covered, hijab wasn’t at all uncommon. I was always intrigued by the notion. To me, it is powerful to know that I can control what people see, that I can take the radical step of declaring they have no right to view me if I do not wish them to, that it is up to me and only me to decide what will remain hidden and what will be exposed. I find an intense joy in that power.

But as I grow older and now have chosen to be covered, I’m haunted by the media and its incessantly relentless effort to disfigure Islam.

The Olympians are all covered in bright red dots — a simple internet search revealed that the latest craze is cupping — we all know prophet Mohamed, PBUH, advised us to do cupping (Hyjama) 1438 years ago. He also said, I quote “your best medication is cupping. Today ET broadcast a 15 minute documentary discussing how it’s an ancient Israeli practise… Ancient…? Israeli…? For gods sake — there’s nothing ancient about Israel… Again media slamming Islam…

I was flipping through channels and I see The Netherland’s team dressed in black body suits under their bikinis a few days after the Egyptian team’s appearance in the female beach volleyball tournament. My husband looked at me and asked, “Are they doing it out of support for Egypt or is it just pure luck?”

I had no idea. In all honesty the team was dressed in clothing eerily similar to the Egyptian team, with black body suits under their orange bikinis, despite having worn the bikinis a few days earlier. But we’re left wondering whether this act by the Dutch was done in solidarity with the Egyptian team, as a reaction to the immense criticism our girls faced? Or was it just pure coincidence…?

So until things change, and the media shows mercy, let’s agree on one thing. Let’s keep believing in tomorrow. Let’s learn to take up space without apology. It’s going to take some work to create the tomorrow we hope for, but I know I am already striving for it: My hijab is an action, a choice I make every day, an affirmation of some essential truth about myself. I’m damn proud of it — and that’s a solid first step…