Yasmin
“I love to be perceived as someone who is hard working and accountable; however I would like to be perceived more as a regular human being – as someone who definitely doesn’t always have their stuff together and someone who has setbacks and falls into low moments but continuously tries to pick themselves up after they fall."
Yasmin is a nineteen year old nutrition and food student. She is pictured in a farmers market as it represents her morals and beliefs in terms of nutrition and the environment, which are her greatest passions. She is an advocate of sustainability, food literacy, and plant-based diets, which she feels farmers markets promote and what she hopes to promote in her future career. She is also a huge lover of reading. Yasmin loves to go to libraries and bookstores and spend hours alone with books wishing she could dedicate her time to reading every single one. Yasmin recently decided to start wearing the hijab, so when I asked her about what she thinks the biggest stereotype of Muslim women are, she centred the conversation around the veil, telling me: “I think the biggest stereotype of a Muslim woman is that the hijab is a symbol of oppression and that modesty and veiling means the same thing to every woman. As a result the idea that Muslim women need to be “saved” from the constraints of her so-called “sexist” religion arises as a common stereotype. This, in reality, is not true, as Muslim women, like all other women, are unique and vary in their thoughts and beliefs. The hijab can be oppressive to some but to a lot of other women (like myself) it’s actually liberating and powerful and does a good job of grounding us even more in our empowering religion.”
Q&A Feature:
What is your favourite quality about yourself?
I love that I am a hard worker and am responsible and accountable in getting my work done.
What is the best quality in someone else?
Someone who is kind and understanding in situations when you really need a listening ear and when you feel like no one would ever understand your thoughts and emotions.
What is one thing you know for sure?
I know for sure that it’s always better to be honest, even in situations where it can be painful to do so. Lying and being dishonest always has a way of catching up to you, when honesty and being truthful will reward you later on.
