It’s a hot summer day in West New York and Stefani Perada isn’t taking advantage of the warm day by walking in shorts and midriff-exposing halter tops as other Latinas in Hispanic neighborhoods would. Perada steps into the sun in a long jilbab, the kind of clothes worn by many Muslim women. You may think Perada is 30 or 40. She is only a 19 year old who converted to Islam like a year ago.
You may wonder … why the hell is she doing this? But, she said, “I am doing this for God, and one day I will be rewarded for what I am doing.”
You know what, she gets immediate results.
Men don’t harass her as she walks down the streets. No more ‘Hey Mami, come over here?’ For once, if men are looking at her, it’s not for her body.
Perada is not alone. Most Latina women are getting tired of being called “mamacita” in the streets. (In the Latino culture, men are macho and women are sex objects).The women have had it with the chauvinism of some Latino men and are now converting into Islam where they are covered up and immediately respected.
According to anecdotal evidence and a survey conducted by the Latino American Dawah Organization (LADO), whose mission is to promote Islam within the Latino community in the United States, the number of Latinos converting to Islam tilts slightly in favor of women — with 60 percent women to 40 percent men.
“The way Latin men portray women, it’s terrible,” Avelar said. “You look at Spanish CDs, and you see women in bikinis on the cover.” (Washington Post)
The Spanish language media also sexualizes women. But is it just them? We have to point not just one finger but all ten to our American media. Women’s bodies are used to sell almost everything … we have seen them in bikinis leaning on sports cars, holding wine glasses ….
But as one article puts it:
It’s easy to make everything so simple. Latinos disrespect their women; Muslims respect them. Latinas show off everything; Muslim women cover up completely. This simplification seems to be hard to avoid when discussing Latina converts.
Clearly, not all Latino women want to be sex kittens … not all of them want to emulate Jennifer Lopez or Christina Aguilera hence adopting a more conservative lifestyle and converting to Islam. Well, as it is stereotyping and sexualization isn’t something most women enjoy.
But, is Islam the only way to stop this sexism? And is it just Latino men that sexualize their women? Your thoughts?
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Comment by Gladiola on 2 May 2008:
In response to that lady who converted into Islam. You could still get respect from men without converted into Islam, I am a black Canadian female, i do not carry myself in a way so men could be tempted by my body. I do not wear shots, t-shirts, bikinis, and very short dresses people can see my panty. I demand respect, i do not messing around. If you are selective with people you hang out with and date, you should not have that problem.
She mentioned Latinos men do not respect their women and any other women for that matter, i personally think men behave this way because women let them treat them that way. Women have to know that when it comes to men, you would be treated the way you treat yourself. Let say you respect yourself, never call yourself dummy, stupid, idiot and carry yourself like a lady; men will respect you so does your co-workers, friends, and so on.
I do not think i need to be converted into any religion in order to get respect from any body. I did a major at university in the World Religion, i have learned that Islam men are no better when it comes to women, they treat them like garbbage, women have no rights, they cannot even sit on the same table with their husband for supper. It’s totally submission, Islam men behave this way in the name of Allah. In my studies, i have not seen it writting any where in the old Koran where Allah said to women that they should wearing the barqa, cover the whole body from head to toe, and let their husband treat them like dirt in order to go to heavan when they die.
Islam men are the one that interpreted the new Koran the way they want it to be. Islam women do not have any rescourse, rights, respect from their husband, the women have to comply or they got bit up, raped or kill by their husband. These Muslim men are just fanatics, they are willing to blow themselve off killing innocent people, detroying the whole all in the name of religion.
Comment by Kat on 13 May 2008:
I agree with the above response. I treat myself with respect and demand respect from men. Simple things make all the difference. If you dress like some video ho then men won’t respect you but if dress respectfully, carry yourself with dignity, and have a good circle of friends then men will learn to respect you. I don’t believe that I should have to convert to get respect. Men are dogs everywhere.