“Grappling with Religion and Culture in the Western World: Muslim Women Writers”
What is your Lucerna project about?
My essay challenges the silent, submissive Muslim woman stereotype perpetuated in the media, examining the written work of Muslim women as they reflect on the development of their identities, voices, and societal roles. Remarkable diversity within this long-standing tradition spans differences in age, time period, race, ethnicity, culture, and writing platforms to illustrate the myriad paths Muslim women travel towards self-actualization. Though Muslim women writers often face difficulties in writing about their identities while contending with society’s negative preconceptions, Muslim women can use their voices to correct these misconceptions, thereby establishing for themselves an active role within their communities. Ultimately, this can unlock powerful discussions regarding cultural pluralism, assimilation into western culture, diversity, self-discovery, and advocacy, in the interests of promoting a more inclusive and just society.
Why are you interested in this topic?
I am interested in my identity as a female Muslim and how that component of my being could inspire my efforts to help others and to appreciate the humanity within each individual. Consequently, my journey of self-discovery also instills within me curiosity about the paths that others travel towards self-actualization. Though my educational and professional aspirations center around medicine, my interests in writing, cultures, and languages encourage me to adopt a holistic approach to physician-patient encounters. My passion for my faith, and the value my faith places on lifelong education and improvement, empower me to dispel the common misconceptions held against Muslim women and to be an advocate for diversity and acceptance. Just as I believe that Islam does not suppress, but rather liberates, I aspire to bring to light the compelling richness with which Muslim women share their own stories, as opposed to occupying silent and subdued roles within society.
What have been the benefits and challenges of this project?
Writing this essay provided me an opportunity to conduct research in the humanities and to learn more about Muslim women’s literary representation, expanding my understanding of research beyond the scope of science and medicine. Though I envision writing medical research papers to be an instrumental component of my career, the critical thinking skills I have sharpened through literary analysis and archival research are widely applicable, perhaps useful for writing pieces to be pondered by a wider variety of audiences beyond the clinical researcher alone. By extension, I believe that these skills will also enhance my physician-patient interactions because they will encourage me to understand the human being as a nuanced whole, not simply an anatomical or biochemical unit of function. One challenge was balancing the research process with my other, largely scientific coursework, though I found that the initial compilation and analysis of evidence gradually facilitated the completion of my essay.
What is your advice for students who are interested in publishing their work in Lucerna?
Write about a topic you are genuinely passionate about, one in which you can refer to personal experience and/or knowledge to guide your research questions as you prepare your project. Consider how you believe the discoveries you make will impact not only those who read your work, but yourself as well. You are far more likely to enjoy the research process and present powerful insights through your writing if it is of personal significance to you, and if curiosity is your primary motivation. Use this as an opportunity to learn more about yourself and how your way of thinking could translate into a meaningful research career. As you keep on schedule with consistent, dedicated effort, frequently ask for constructive feedback throughout the writing process to ensure that your writing is clear, concise, coherent, and profound in its analysis.
What are your professional plans or goals?
I am a second-year medical student in the six-year BA/MD program at UMKC. Upon completing my medical education, I am passionate about pursuing ophthalmology along with conducting research in the field, particularly in retinal or neuro-ophthalmic conditions and treatments.
