The Language that Frees Us

Beyond the Hijab began as a small project by a group of Muslim women who noticed that the issues pertaining to women in Singapore were still dominantly expressed by the (male) minority elite. Stories that were dominantly featured were also shy to address more controversial topics that were necessary to grapple with, such as domestic abuse, religious trauma, sexism, sexual assault, mental health, and many others. Rare was the voice of the normal woman and her complex feelings and thoughts given authentic expression. Muslim women in Singapore are dominantly doubly minoritised, by virtue of their gender, as well as their race and/or religion, especially in a post 9-11 world. Aware of such a context, Beyond the Hijab has always striven to ensure that the message and learning we bring, the stories we platform, and the methods we employ are best suited in protecting the integrity of our values and the safety and needs of the women on our platform and building new possibilities for a community hungry for self-expression.