Islam Women, Kanye, and Tyler the Creator

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As we have discussed in class and as Rasmussen also describes in her book, “Arabic flavored” Islam tends to be much more publically patriarical, while Indoneisan Islam includes and appreciates women in their islamic traditions, practices and beliefs. This generality kind of reminded me of christianity amongst white people vs christianity among black people in America. 

Christianity by whites was often forced upon and used to oppress black people especially during slavery times and now just a few generations later many black families hold strong christian beliefs, which seems counterintuituve to many. I do not speak for anyone whatsoever, but from what I have experienced and witnessed many have in turn used it to persevere through the effects of that oppression, to restore and keep faith. 

Wildly famous rapper and producer Kanye, for example, openly discusses his faith in his music and other media, often symbolizing Jesus and religion as safety and motivation to get through racism and other struggles in his life. To me, Kanye is one of the most interesting personalities, he speaks openly and always has without shame which I admire even though seemingly he can be confusing and contradictory.

His thoughts on racism’s relevance in America and the effects of institutionalized racism on black communities also have frequently appeared in his songs, although confusing and contradictory to lots of people and fans with his quite grand support of Donald Trump. 

Through pop culture- tik tok & other social media, musicians, celebrities, etc. have also openly spoken out about religion and christianity opposingly, in remembering where it stems from and what it historically was used for and by whom. Also wildly famous African American rapper, song writer, and producer Tyler the Creator is an example of one who also openly speaks about his feelings towards christianity in many of his songs, although in a different context from Kanye.  In “MANIFESTO'' off of his newest album CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST Tyler starts the song unapologetically with “That ain’t your religion, you just followin’ your mammy, she followed your granny, she obeyed master'' questioning other African American’s beliefs and stance on christianity. 

This got me to thinking, I wonder if any women feel this type of way towards Islam? Surely it is a different context and religion amongst the Indonisian people seems to be much more integrated into daily life and mind, but I wonder if there are women who feel any type of need to reject Islam for its relations/associations to great gender discrimination, moreso in middle eastern, “Arabic flavored” rooted Islam? How prevalent is anger among Islam women who recognize the way the religion has been used to opress their gender?

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