Have Muslim Women in the United States constructed their identities [as] Americans?
That’s a tough question, Ali Eid, because there are so many Muslim American women and I am just one of them. We construct our identities in myriad ways, as do women all over the world. So much depends on our families, our education, our culture, our opportunities for freedom and self-expression. I think in the USA you’ll see Muslim women expressing themselves with every kind of attire you can imagine. You’ll find Muslim women who are highly educated and some illiterate. Some will marry the man their family chooses but I believe most will choose their own spouse — as is our mandate. The women I know best are well-educated, lots of fun, and highly motivated in their professions; they are excellent friends and mothers. They assemble their identities from their ethnic and racial roots, from their interests and talents, and from their good common sense. None of this conflicts with being Muslim. In fact, now that I think about it, the guaranteed freedoms of this nation enhance and empower o
