First of all, I come from a small town in Michigan, so my interaction with Muslims and Muslim culture has been somewhat limited, however, there are some parts of Michigan around me that are very heavily populated by Muslims. So, before coming to Butler I had not much, but a little contact with Muslim people, and even at Butler there are not a great majority of Muslim people, but I have had some interactions with Muslims at Butler, all of which have been delightful. One of the stereotypes that I have heard throughout my life is that Muslim women are oppressed, coerced, and beaten throughout their lives, and that they are not treated as equals. However, the article PBS Global Connections article directly refutes that claim, as would conversations I have had with Muslim people in the communities around my home. Muslim women are supposed to be treated like equals, and the great majority of them are happy to follow the teachings of the Quran and Islam. It is the uncommon, bad cases that get captured by news outlets and blown up because it is out of the norm, and we all need to do some more research around the world to make sure we are avoiding anti-Muslim stereotypes at all times.
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