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Now that's how you handle Muslim representation, say netizens on Ms. Marvel's depiction of a hijabi

Now that's how you handle Muslim representation, say netizens on Ms. Marvel's depiction of a hijabi

A young Muslim woman who is proud of wearing her hijab? We love to see it.
16 Jun, 2022

Whenever anyone talks about Ms. Marvel, Marvel's newest superhero TV series, the conversation is always about representation. Is it representative enough and is that representation accurate? After watching the first two episodes, the internet has concurred that yes, Ms. Marvel gets a solid 10/10 for representation of desis and Muslims. The latest act of representation comes in the form of a teenager wearing a hijab.

Nakia, Kamala Khan's friend in the show, wears a hijab and unlike other shows about Muslim women who wear hijabs, she doesn't feel pressured or hindered by it. Instead, she's proud of her hijab and proud to wear it. A scene in the show where she explains this to Kamala struck home for a lot of Twitter users who loved the way the show treated the topic.

Some users were giving the side-eye to Netflix and its representation of hijabis.

Others said the scene was important because it showed how many women wear the hijab because they want to, not because they're forced to.

Many people appreciated the hijab conversation.

Others really enjoyed seeing Muslims and South Asians being represented in the show.

The representation of Black Muslims was also lauded.

However, some people took issue with a non-Turkish actor being cast to play Nakia as well as the character's change in ethnicity to match the actor. In Ms. Marvel, Nakia's character is half-white while in the comics, she is entirely Turkish.

But by and large, seeing Nakia (and Tyesha) wear their hijabs with pride in the show was a win for many people online.

We're eager to see more of the show and see even more moments of representation. No matter how small they may seem to the general public, this representation goes a long way for a lot of people hoping to see role models who look like them.

Comments

Pandu Jun 16, 2022 06:59pm
pretentious and regressive.
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Bunny Jun 16, 2022 07:01pm
These series gives a light hearted chirpy positive image to our sub continent . The perception about us in the west will change thanx to this . Dress is only external .
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Jay Hind Jun 16, 2022 07:17pm
Who cares?
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Faraz Jun 16, 2022 08:15pm
The sad part that to depict a good Muslim you have to represent her as a hijabi nowadays else no one will know she is Muslim
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Nadeem Shah Jun 16, 2022 10:05pm
Times like these when I'm proud to be an American Muslim
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Ahmed Jun 16, 2022 11:33pm
@Faraz that's the whole point of hijab. Identity.
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Mnkhan Jun 17, 2022 12:25am
@Pandu I guess you are referring to your mindset, pretentious and regressive
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Logical Jun 17, 2022 05:25am
Why are we so desperate for representation?
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Sheraz Jun 17, 2022 09:51am
I'm more perturbed by the lines in ep 2 where they talk about the partition. The sentence used by the actor who plays Kamala's dad that before partition there was only one big country called India is highly problematic. There was no one country, nation or state called India before 1947, there was a region called the Indian subcontinent which comprised of a number of princely states before India and Pakistan came into existence. Why was it shown or rather insinuated that the partition was something wrong and that the British divided and broke India up. This is a strictly Indian rhetoric and I'd like to know why a show based on Pakistani characters and culture would portray the idea of partition that is the exact opposite of what the core ideology of Pakistan actually is. We're aware of the horrible violence that took place during partition, but it is our belief that those sacrifices were vital in the creation of our nation and gaining independence.
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Jun 17, 2022 02:08pm
United we stand, divided we fall.
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Kiwi Jun 17, 2022 04:20pm
I want to watch the series because of this.
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Texas Tariq Jun 18, 2022 01:28am
@Jay Hind instead of being jealous.... learn from Americans, whom you love to copy.... copy good things, especially how to treat different faiths with respect. India would not be what it is today, without the beauty of the Muslims who brought art, culture, music, cuisine, literature, architecture, modernity, equality, development to a people who were in the dark ages.
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Kam Jun 19, 2022 03:39am
@Pandu. So women's right to wear what they want is regressive?
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