Mariam Majeed
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Research Mentor(s): Melanie Manos, Lecturer II
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Stamps School of Art & Design,
Presentation Date: Thursday, April 22, 2021
Session: Session 3 (1pm-1:50pm)
Breakout Room: Room 4
Presenter: 5
Abstract
Motivation/problem statement: When it comes to history and in what we define “heroism” to be, women’s work is devalued in both traditional and nontraditional worlds; it is nonexistent or hardly ever spoken about. The gap created by past historians and educational resources engages in the historical erasure of women as important contributors in American history and culture. And even more so for women from minority groups, such as the Muslim-American and Arab-American community. Methods/procedure/approach: This study seeks to question both the representation and definition of “heroism” and aims to shed light on the countless untold stories of Muslim and/or Arab women in America, specifically the Dearborn/Detroit area in Michigan, through the qualitative data extraction of 2 archived oral interviews, 1 podcast, 1 interview, 1 article essay, 1 academic journal article and 2 collections from the Arab American National Museum. This study also shares its findings on Instagram (@visualizingwomenswork) through “Women of the Week” posts and both “Brave Girl” and “Memoria” stories. Results/findings/product: An analysis of these sources yields a timeline of 6 women who identify as Muslim and/or Arab-American and have significantly contributed to their respective communities: 1) Eva Habib, an Arab-American woman who working in a Detroit factory circa 1925; 2) Aliya Ogdie-Hassen (1910-1991), “Mother” of the Dearborn-Detroit Arab Community and founding member of the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS); 3) Sandra Amen and 4) Aliya Hussin, both workers in the Ford Automotive Factory in Dearborn in the 90s; and 5) Yasmeen Kadouh and 6) Rima Fadlallah (UM Alum), founders of the “Dearborn Girl” Podcast. Conclusion/implications: The stories add nuance to our understanding of Muslim and Arab women’s contributions to American society. This study is part of a growing body of multi-media research on gendered public monuments (U.S) and the historical erasure of women’s works. In highlighting stories and journeys of Muslim and Arab-American women, this study will contribute to future research on similar topics.
Authors: Mariam Majeed
Research Method: Library/Archival/Internet Research
Instagram: @visualizingwomenswork
