In My Own Skin:

Canadian Muslim Women
Creating Our Own Identity

$40.00
(video & Manual)

Canadian Council of Muslim Women

2400 DUNDAS STREET, W., SUITE 513, MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO, CANADA L5K 298

Formation of the Kit

Since the youth in the 1999 national conference addressed many issues and they resonated with so many of us, the CCMW appointed a work group, which was formed in late 2000. Its task was to create a resource kit (manual and video) that reached to many young Muslim women in Canada.

These women facilitated workshops in various cities across Canada that opened dialogue, created discussion, and generated positive feedback. This kit allows participants to continue to examine the issues, to analyse the problems, and to elaborate strategies for finding solutions. The working group of seven young Muslim women hoped to fulfill this need.

They also had the opportunity to represent CCMW, at the World Conference Against Racism, in Durban, South Africa. There, they held a workshop that addressed the issues young, Muslim women face in Canada.

The main themes in this kit are: identity, relationships and family dynamics, racism and discrimination, gender issues, and violence against women.

The work group members were: Erum Afsar (Regina, SK), Leila Bedeir (Montreal, PQ), Rehana Begg (Toronto, ON), Salima Ebrahim (Edmonton, ON), Humera Ibrahim (Ottawa, ON), Noreen Majeed (Montreal, PQ), and Iman Zebian (London, ON).

Creation and Layout of the Manual

This manual draws on the experiences and observations of the working group members. Its strength lies in the diversity of the women's cultural, geographical, and Islamic backgrounds and experiences. It is hoped that this manual will serve the needs of the Muslim and non-Muslim communities and encourage dialogue among young Muslim women.

The themes covered in the manual are presented through various scenarios that reflect real-life situations faced by young Canadian Muslim women. The scenarios aim to involve readers (Muslim and non-Muslim) in the hope that they may understand the dichotomy which often permeates the lives of young Muslim women in Canada- that is, Muslim women's struggle to belong to mainstream society while maintaining a sense of tradition and belonging within their communities of origin.

The layout of the manual is user friendly. Each thematic module begins with icebreaker exercises that will serve as primers by allowing facilitators to create a comfortable, less threatening atmosphere.
Next, an introduction, followed by creative warm-up activities and questions, serves to facilitate initial discussion of issues related to the theme. This approach allows for a more relaxed atmosphere that, in turn, encourages a more honest and open exchange. Detailed scenarios follow, with questions for discussion and learning exercises that provide further opportunities to share ideas and that foster a genuine attempt to work through problematic issues.

A bilingual manual will be produced in order to Serve the needs of both Anglophone and Francophone communities.

Overall, we hope this kit continues to be relevant and useful to diverse groups of young Canadian Muslim women and that it proves to be a learning tool for men and those of other faiths.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
Background
Preface

Part I: Introduction
A. Project Objectives
B. Pedagogical Objectives

Part II : Scenarios
Theme I: Identity
Theme II: Relationships and Family Dynamics
Theme III: Racism and Discrimination
Theme IV: Gender Issues
Theme V: Violence Against Women

Part III: Conclusion

A Closing Word

Appendices
A: Icebreakers and Energizers
B: Evaluation Forms
Relevant Readings & Books of Interest
Glossary