I contemplate some key N American Muslim women leaders, scholars, organizers

Then I consider some of the community brothers who rise to celebrity-level prominence with not HALF the leadership, organizing, emotional, interpersonal, spiritual skills+strength of these women

and

I think to myself

So-and-so would be next-level prominent in the community if she were a man

With some power, her skills and experience would make real change in our orgs, our communities, our mosques!

and I get mad.

And then, when one of these amazing women makes a much-needed critique of our communities, she is lambasted and excluded from leadership, her critique lives in long memories, and she becomes framed as an outsider.

Contrast with how abusers & racists are uplifted & defended.

These women are required to embody impossible standards, plus additional questions
what does she wear? how attractive is she? (she should not be too attractive) what race? what languages?

I am often gobsmacked by the utter mediocrity of many brothers - bless their hearts - who end up leading the community, speaking at every event (er & jumah), providing representation at highest levels - in contrast to the women sitting in the audience, wondering WHY WHY WHY

Such a WASTE of our BEST RESOURCES.
TOO MANY beards on your event flyers. I want to see the women who do ALL THE WORK in the background. Who have been figuring out what needs fixing & how.
I want them-not moderating panels full of beards-but leading & making decisions.