Monday, March 27, marks the first-ever Muslim Women’s Day — a day for Muslim women to share their stories and for others to celebrate them during Women’s History Month.
Created by MuslimGirl.com with the help of dozens of media groups and websites, the day is an opportunity to "hear from a community that's often talked about, but rarely given the chance to speak."
All day long, outlets such as Refinery29, Teen Vogue and Nylon magazine, as well as users on Twitter and several more outlets, have highlighted Muslim women from diverse backgrounds in different lines of work.
Illustration by Neda Hajmomeni #MuslimWomensDay pic.twitter.com/gQb8mEXwEN
— Refinery29 (@Refinery29) March 27, 2017
6 Muslim-American fashion labels you should know #MuslimWomensDay https://t.co/qtCw2QjhNz pic.twitter.com/UxrgmrE84u
— NYLON (@NylonMag) March 27, 2017
TeenVogue shared a Twitter thread of stories from and about Muslim women and their experiences.
In honor of the first Muslim Women’s Day, we rounded up some of our favorite inspirational quotes from iconic Muslim women around the world.
Social media users have also used their platforms to celebrate with the hashtag #MuslimWomensDay.
Shoutout to the hijabis, no-jabis, glamjabis, half-jabis and all Muslim girls. It's a tough world. I see you and I love you #MuslimWomensDay
— Hind Makki (@HindMakki) March 27, 2017
Happy #MuslimWomensDay to every Muslim woman/femme/nonbinary person who has ever felt anything less than the incredible soul they truly are.
— Laila Alawa (@lulainlife) March 27, 2017
Happy first #MuslimWomensDay! Muslim women, you deserve to be recognised, celebrated, loved and respected always. Be proud of who you are. ♡ pic.twitter.com/R0XRU3uX4N
— Emily 🌈 (@EmilyBashforth) March 27, 2017
But the movement also invited its share of criticism.
#MuslimWomensDay - Why are feminists celebrating the veil - a garment Muslim feminist groups have been trying to discard for 100 years?
— Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) March 27, 2017
The backlash is similar to the criticism Nike faced when the company unveiled a new product for Muslim women: the Nike Pro Hijab.
Some criticized the company for supporting the "oppression of women," prompting tweets of dissent with the hashtag #BoycottNike, despite Nike saying the product was developed with Muslim athletes after some expressed frustration with competing while wearing a traditional hijab.
Cox Media Group
