Women’s History Month Spotlight: Miranda Barnes

Women’s History Month Spotlight: Kawther Inuwa

This Women’s History Month Spotlight features Nigerian activist Kawther Inuwa. Inuwa works by instigating conversations around women’s rights and empowerment, humanitarian issues, Islamophobia, and racism. You’ll want to read more about her in our interview below.

Let’s start with you telling us a little bit about yourself. 

My name is Kawther, I’m from Nigeria, and I am currently a first-year university student. Reading and writing are two of my most predominant passions, and for the longest time, I have been in love with the art of writing as a means to create worlds beyond boundaries and educate and inspire the masses. I truly believe that as the the younger generation, we need to learn to be socially, culturally and politically aware of not only our immediate environments but also on a global scale. Hence, I encourage my peers to entertain their curiosity and thirst for knowledge, whether it’s through poetry, art, novels, documentaries, podcasts, the Internet, books, etc.

Why do you think it’s important for people to understand the experiences of Black Muslim women?

Solely being born a woman, one is undoubtedly sure to face sexism in a number of settings; at home, school, workplaces. Yet, being born a Black woman, the discrimination we face is twofold, and in environments where Islamophobic attitudes run rampant, Black Muslim women are inundated with triple the prejudice, and their basic identity is the target of unjustified attacks. Within a number of Muslim communities, religious and cultural values and beliefs are wrongly interchanged, and so while Islam in no way endorses racial prejudice, certain cultures that practice Islam do. This can negatively impact Black Muslim women within those communities, wherein their blackness is believed to make them inferior to their non-Black counterparts.

Moreover, when we observe attitudes towards Black Muslim women in parts of the globe that are not predominantly Muslim, the discriminatory patterns that emerge are appalling. Primarily, institutional racism is an obstacle placed in the path of success for all Black women, barring them from landing jobs or getting into their dream schools, for example. Yet, due to the misconceived belief that anyone who practices Islam promotes violence, Muslim women are on many occasions turned down from jobs they are highly qualified for and rejected from schools they should have been accepted into. Job opportunities and acceptance letters have slipped through the fingers of Black women due to the blackness of their skin and the nature of their curls, so just imagine how many Black Muslim women have experienced the same.

This is why I think it’s so important for us to see Black Muslim women knocking down society’s cunningly placed impediments to their success, and shattering the stereotype of Muslim women as docile creatures. It definitely instills a feeling of pride within me to know that Black Muslim girls out there have such inspiring figures to look up to.

How can we educate and advocate for people to be allies to the Muslim community?

Religious extremism has unfortunately become a prevalent headline within the 21st Century, perpetuating the false notion that Islam is a religion of terror. In addition, when certain aspects of the media repeatedly insinuate that the terms “Muslim” and “terrorism” are synonymous, all this does is fuel the religious intolerance Muslims are subjected to on a daily basis. Like I mentioned before, education can make the greatest difference. Rather than condemn an entire faith for the actions of a group of individuals who practice said faith, take a moment to gather all the facts before jumping to conclusions.

The misperceptions surrounding the Islamic faith are extensive. Therefore, being an ally to Muslim communities worldwide can only begin once those misperceptions have been clarified. And I really believe that there is no better way to do so than by initiating conversations with Muslims.  The saying goes that “ignorance is bliss”, but I beg to differ. Ignorance breeds bigotry and pure, unadulterated hate. The inception of a discourse between Muslims and non-Muslims will allow those on varying ends of the religious spectrum to realize that the Islamic faith denounces all forms of brutality and discrimination against any human being, and will shed light on the fact that Islam champions women’s rights, debunking the fallacy that Islam is a faith that supports misogynistic views.

We couldn’t be more thankful for Kawther Inuwa taking her time to educate the masses. To see more from her, please visit her website. 

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Women’s History Month Spotlight: Kat Rohn 

In honor of Women’s History Month and ahead of International Transgender Day of Visibility, we spoke to Kat Rohn about her experiences as a transgender parent. She’s been highlighting her beautiful family over on @transparenting since 2013. Let’s dive into the interview!

We see so many parents documenting their parenting journeys on Tumblr. How did your @transparenting start?

I started Transparenting on Tumblr as both a way to record my own experiences as a (then) new parent, as well as to try and connect with other parents along the LGBTQ+ spectrum. I really didn’t have any big vision for where I wanted to go from there, but Tumblr felt like a great place to share and connect with a wide variety of content, and the community that I’ve found has been really fabulous.

Why is it so important that we continue to show the experience of parents who identify as LGBTQ+?

For one, I think visibility still matters for LGBTQ+ folks broadly. We’ve come a long way on that front since I started blogging in 2013, but having those stories, spaces, and experiences out there is important - especially for other LGBTQ+ folks who are or might be considering becoming parents one day. LGBTQ+ folks often have to jump through extra hoops to become parents, and unfortunately still face many structural and cultural obstacles. Having these stories out there can be really vital for people trying to navigate those challenges. I hear from folks on a regular basis who thanked me for sharing my story because it helped to give them hope for their own future. Visibility isn’t everything - and in this current political climate it can even feel like a liability at times - but it’s still powerful. I also think that the value of sharing these kinds of parenting experiences has value well beyond the LGBTQ+ specific community. I’ve been really fortunate in connecting with parents around the globe from a broad range of experiences and backgrounds. Parenting is full of its challenges, and getting a diverse set of perspectives on those challenges can be tremendously helpful. LGBTQ+ parents can bring a unique lens to many parenting conversations; and on the flip side, I’ve found my own parenting improved by having a broad range of voices and connections to draw upon.

What do you teach your children that you believe all parents should be teaching their children?

I want my kids to be kind and compassionate, to never stop being curious, to be resilient, and to proudly be themselves. I hope that my own identity and experiences help to foster that, but those are things every parent can help to teach their child!

We’re so grateful for you sharing your family’s story with Tumblr, Kat! 

Tumblr, as we gear up to celebrate TDOV, we want to know how you plan to honor and celebrate yourselves or the trans people in your life. Let us know in the reblogs! 

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Women’s History Month Spotlight: Stefania Tejada

In honor of #WomensHistoryMonth, we’ve connected with some amazing women on Tumblr from different industries and backgrounds to discuss how their perspective shapes their art, work, family, activism, and more. First up is Stefania Tejada (@stefaniatejada), a Colombian artist and illustrator whose work often speaks on taboo subjects women face.

Your latest series, “The Birth of Venus,” explores how women are confronting the world. How did this series start and why was it important for you to create this series?

All of my work is really personal and it’s a response to very specific moments and transitions. I grew up in a time where it wasn’t okay to ask major questions about your body or things you felt that are completely normal. There was this huge taboo about everything: sexual education, menstruation, pleasure, depression, anxiety, homosexuality, etc. I studied in an all-girls high school with nuns so we really didn’t have any sort of sexual education. It was all presented as some sort of sin, and in general, parents didn’t feel comfortable discussing the subject either.

So in some way, “The Birth of Venus” shows the woman that I am today. I think about the girl I used to be when I was very little, very shy about speaking my mind or pursuing something I really wanted. But I’ve been lucky. I’ve met very important people in my life who picked my brain, made me think and understand that I am me, I deserve to live the life I want, the life I choose to have. That I can have my own opinion, that I must speak up, respect myself and respect others. I learned about acceptance and forgiveness. I learned to always stay curious, to work hard, and dream big. I feel very lucky to have my family and friends.

Can you talk to us about your featured artwork and the story behind it? We’re in awe.

This piece was made after Dolce & Gabbana’s statement towards Chinese culture. I was amazed and shocked [by] this way of thinking. For me, understanding other people’s culture is so fascinating. I try to live in different places and learn as much as I can. You need to understand somebody else’s past, present, and future before judging someone.

As Colombians, we have always been generalized for the past. Many of us were scared to try to change things because people were trying to survive. When I was little I remember the Guerrilla coming into our town and the four of us hiding under the bed listening to gunfire right outside our door. The mistakes of a few became the mistakes of all of us. And that happens with so many cultures, but it’s up to us to teach others about respect, acceptance, and forgiveness. It all comes from education.

Could you imagine what we could do if we were to stand together? All of the positive things we could do? There could be a future for all of us. A future we would all be proud of.

We live in a time where it’s important to showcase all identities of women and their contributions to society. How does your art encompass that?

I believe every person is a piece of art. The elements that shaped their personalities, the stories that triggered something inside of them and motivated them to be who they are now—I called them treasures. I’ve watched so many documentaries about people and movements: Nina Simone, Whitney Houston, She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Queen, Obama, The Defiant Ones, Steve Jobs, 2Pac, you name it.

I believe you can learn from anyone. I chose to focus on women empowerment because I had to find a way to empower myself because it’s something I needed at the time and it helped me believe in myself. And along the way women I didn’t even knew started writing to me about feeling the same way thanks to my work. In my mind we are all together, all these women that I draw are part of who I am. Some of them have shaped my future, some of them have sacrificed themselves for us so that we can speak up, vote, marry whoever we want, choose whether we want to have children or not. We owe them everything and this is my way of continuing their legacy. To live a life that has meaning.

Thank you for sharing your work with us, @stefaniatejada ! Tumblr, have you made any art for Women’s History Month yet? Show it off by making a post and tagging it #WomensHistoryMonth.

This interview has been condensed and edited.

Women’s History Month Spotlight: Gabriella Sanchez

Oh, hello. Looking to celebrate an incredible WOC artist for Women’s History Month? Let us suggest one of our Tumblr @creatrs, Gabriella Sanchez (@thatnoisegallery). This LA-based Mexican-American artist is one you’re going to want to pay attention to. In the interest of celebrating women and how they impact their world, we’ve touched base with her to discuss how feminism intersects with her work. Read on, reader.

Let’s start by telling us a little bit about yourself. How did you become the artist that you are today?

That’s a big question in which the true answer is that it’s a result of all my experiences and interactions that are too many to list here. The more direct but partial answer is that I went to college without knowing what I wanted to do and started taking art electives until those became the only classes I was taking. I was really attracted to the freedom of being an artist—the idea that you could spend your time seeking out whatever ideas interested you and then turn into something that people could engage with and it could be under this expansive umbrella of art. That was and still is thrilling to me.

As a Mexican-American woman, your experiences and intersections in race, gender, and socioeconomic status all play a part in your work. Why do you think it’s important for art spaces to exhibit more work by women of color?

I would say that yes, the things you mentioned above play a role in my work, but that’s because everyone’s personal experiences play some role in their work even if they aren’t acknowledged. It’s just framed in a different light when a person from any marginalized group creates art. Specifically, in painting, the work is an assertion of what an artist thinks is beautiful or interesting or worth looking at and that inherently is a message and a showcase of their viewpoint. An artist who paints a flower versus an artist who paints a bus bench with graffiti are both painting what they want you to see. In that sense, the work could be seen as the same. They just get framed in a different light. That’s why it’s important for artists of marginalized groups to be included in these art spaces, so that our context of viewing work gets larger so we can really see the work without knee-jerk biases blocking our ability to fully engage with a work.

Let’s talk about your featured artwork. Women of color and trans women are people most affected by violence. Talk us through the process of this piece and why it’s important?

The idea behind this piece is that this is a collective issue. Not an issue that is just on the shoulders or survivors or only women, but everyone. Only with that mentality will we be able to make moves towards a future where women are safe and we can all move forward [with] equality and equity for everyone.

If you want more of Gabriella’s art, follow her at @thatnoisegallery. If you want more interviews with women making an impact in their fields, stay tuned to @action! We’re celebrating Women’s History Month all month long.

The area where I live has a relatively higher human trafficking rate than the rest of the US, so this is very helpful to know.

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