Muslims have it hard living in the West. Nowadays it is perfectly acceptable to sling all kinds of vitriolic, hate-filled misinformation towards Muslims that simply would never be thrown at adherents of other religions. So it is natural for Muslims, who fight hard against these stereotypes every day, to want to make a huge impact in trying to rid themselves of all the negativity that they become shrouded in.
Unfortunately, sometimes in the quest for shaking off the adverse image, no real progress is made. This comes as a hijab-laden Muslim lady, Noor Tagouri, appeared in Playboy magazine as a journalist aspiring to be ‘America’s first hijabi anchor’ on commercial television.
Playboy magazine is usually connoted with sexual frivolity, bunnies and Hugh Hefner’s promotion of unabashed hedonism. How could a Muslim woman possibly use Playboy as a platform to launch her career? Could this move be classed as absurd or highly ingenious? The news definitely raised eyebrows and spearheaded Noor’s intentions into the fast lane. It has also started a raging debate (which spilled over into Twitter) about Islamic morality and contemporary culture.
I don’t agree with @NTagouri appearing in a magazine that has unapologetically profited off the sexualisation and objectification of women.
— Lina – سيرين (@Lina_Serene) September 25, 2016
So apparently some so-called Islamic "scholars" are appreciating a woman for appearing in the #Playboy magazine.#GheerahLost
— أبو بحر (@KaleemBhat) September 25, 2016
Last year Playboy announced that it would no longer feature nude women in its publication because online pornography had rendered such a purpose rather pointless. Instead, the magazine would focus on articles about various topics like politics, history and even hijab-laden women. Noor’s presence in Playboy has been met with a mixture of reactions, ranging from abhorrence to acceptance. Many Muslims still find it difficult to disassociate themselves from Playboy’s image of being a magazine which shows images of naked women. A hijabi in Playboy just doesn’t bode well.
Can we just appreciate the fact that @NTagouri is the EPITOME of feminism? Unapologetically muslim. Unapologetically female. #LEGENDARY.
— tooba warraich (@toobawarraich_) September 26, 2016
If this girl is not the coolest, then I don't know who is. #playboy #letNoorshine #badass https://t.co/l9s4bqGsYE
— Kimia Ramezani (@KimiaRamezani) September 22, 2016
Disagree with what our sis @NTagouri decided to do re interview, BUT the attack against her character & language being used is APPALLING!
— AbdelRahman Murphy (@AbdelRahmanM) September 24, 2016
Although Noor has an appealing goal, the platform she has used to reach that goal is questionable. But on the other hand, she may never have gotten the requisite attention she needed to accomplish her goal had she remained on the straight and narrow path.
It’s a murky world out there and the lines between morality and licentiousness are increasingly becoming blurred. Muslims have to be original in how they get their message out there albeit in a manner which minimises offence in their community.
It will be interesting to see how far Noor Tabouri goes in challenging stereotypes that people hold against Muslim women, but this stint definitely challenged a spectacular amount. If anything, it definitely made me see Playboy in a different light.