Author Archives

Global Consultant and Community Educator in Gender, Human Rights and Development.

• Latin Identities and Muslim Malinches by Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente and Sumayah Soler

  By Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente on September 15, 2016 • ( 14 )

  

  The myth says that Malinche, an Aztec princess, betrayed her people, her culture and faith, for the love and the desire to be loved and accepted by the foreign Spanish conquer, colonialist and exploiter. Her name, said with contempt, is… Read More ›

• Progressive Islam: A Critical View from Latin Muslim Feminists by Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente & Eren Cervantes-Altamirano

  By Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente on September 2, 2016 • ( 11 )

  

  Progressive Islam(s) in the West, particularly in Canada and the US, have been defined as movements that primarily encompass Islamic feminism(s), LGBTQI affirming movements, anti-Conservative theologies, feminist theologies, women-centered liturgies, etc. From within this umbrella, we have seen calls to… Read More ›

• Gender Jihad and Epistemic Justice by Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente

  By Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente on August 17, 2016 • ( 15 )

  

  In previous articles I have developed my personal perspective on Islamic feminism as a third narrative pathway that responds to the two traditional hegemonic discourses that exist on Muslim women, which I call “idealization of inequality” and “demonization of Islam… Read More ›

• Caring as Resistance and Sisterhood by Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente

  By Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente on August 3, 2016 • ( 7 )

  

  Every week, the women participating in my workshops easily share their experiences in the social, political or community world. However, it is difficult for them to talk about themselves. Several of them face complex situations: A divorce or a long… Read More ›

• Have You Seen These Muslim Women? by Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente

  By Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente on July 21, 2016 • ( 18 )

  

  The photo that accompanies this article, or others similar, have been posted, shared and commented through social networks as expression of the inherent misogyny of Islam, with descriptions such as “DAESH taking women to sell in the concubine’s market” or… Read More ›

• Islamophobia and Two Tales about Muslim Women by Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente

  By Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente on July 9, 2016 • ( 14 )

  

  Woman in religion is a story. This means that all that is said about women in all religions, as well as from social and natural sciences, institutions and the media is a  story, a story that is the product of… Read More ›

• Khutba “A Call to Radical and Angry Women of Faith” by Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente

  By Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente on June 18, 2016 • ( 29 )

  

  I am grateful to the Interfaith Group of Feminist Theologians and Women of Faith for remembering my spiritual affiliation and giving me the opportunity to lead this service in this fully of blessings month of Ramadan and share with you a reflection… Read More ›

• Who’s to Blame for Patriarchy? by Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente

  By Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente on June 6, 2016 • ( 22 )

  

  A 16 year old girl was drugged and then gang raped by 33 men in Brazil. The police arrested the boyfriend as a suspect. A 30-second video recording the suffering of the girl was uploaded to social networks, as a… Read More ›

• Feministing Sarah and Hagar by Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente

  By Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente on May 20, 2016 • ( 27 )

  

  One story that has marked my life as a feminist is that of Sarah and Hagar. This is a story of pain and enmity among women under patriarchy that despite its age, is still relevant to illustrate the negative effects of the… Read More ›

• The Denied Trans-Childhood of Medusczka by Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente

  By Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente on May 12, 2016 • ( 17 )

  

  One of my articles in April featured one of the “Niñas Santas Trans”(1). I have been asked often where I came across her and if there are more liken her. Well, she is part of a colorful and provocative project of… Read More ›

• Woman Is Not Anonymous by Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente

  By Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente on April 21, 2016 • ( 13 )

  

  Lately I have been reflecting on this quote of Virginia Woolf: “For most of history, Anonymous was a woman.” Here she points out the deliberate invisibilization of women’s contribution in all areas of human endeavors. Patriarchy always takes these contributions… Read More ›

• Islamic Feminism and Heterosexual Dogma by Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente

  By Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente on April 7, 2016 • ( 14 )

  

  Reza Aslan says in his book “No God But God” that religions are myths. He explains that “religion” is a set of stories fluctuating between truth and fantasy that serve to explain and answer questions about human fate. Taking this idea… Read More ›

• Misogyny From Gay Ally by Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente

  By Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente on March 29, 2016 • ( 15 )

  

  Diane Padilla is a Mexican activist who has been victim of systematic online harassment in recent weeks. She put a claim in against her abusers to the Human Rights Authority in her country. But Diane has had to deal with… Read More ›

• Mawada, Rahma and Sakina by Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente

  By Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente on February 18, 2016 • ( 21 )

  

  Last year I thought, seriously, of getting married. I know, it may be hard to believe, given my image of cranky feminist. But I still have an engagement ring in art-deco style with a bright ruby to show this was true. He… Read More ›

• Islamophobia is Gender Violence and a Feminist Issue

  By Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente on January 21, 2016 • ( 10 )

  

  The case of Larycia Hawkins, an African-American Christian, Associate Professor of political science at Wheaton College in the United States, who published a photo on Christmas day on Facebook wearing a headscarf in solidarity with Muslim women victims of Islamophobia,… Read More ›

• Xmas and Feminine Wisdom by Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente

  By Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente on December 17, 2015 • ( 25 )

  

  I am not fond of Christmas and these holidays are very difficult for me to deal with. This has nothing to do with me being a Muslim. I have been a Grinch before this. I do not like excessive noise… Read More ›

• All Male Panels and Feminist Movement Building by Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente

  By Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente on November 24, 2015 • ( 13 )

  

  Making visible gender inequities in the accessibility, acquisition, and transmission of knowledge is essential to breaking ceilings and barriers that prevent women from full participation. This is especially critical in religion, an area in which Patriarchy has bashed women in… Read More ›

• The Pilgrimage We Need Is Not To Mecca by Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente

  By Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente on October 19, 2015 • ( 10 )

  

  Many people have been writing about the Hajj from a critical perspective, telling Muslims it is a time to reflect seriously and deeply about what is happening there in Saudi Arabia with our sacred places and rituals. I am here… Read More ›

• Offering My First Khutba: On Imaan & The Divine Presence by Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente

  By Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente on July 30, 2015 • ( 10 )

  

  For the last 6 weeks, I’ve been living in Cape Town, South Africa. This has been a blessed opportunity to grow, to gain more knowledge, and to reach outcomes that are beneficial both for my work as an activist and… Read More ›

• Women Fighting Patriarchy … Against Each Other by Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente

  By Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente on June 18, 2015 • ( 21 )

  

  It is painful to find out the lack of understanding among feminists when controversial issues are discussed, to the point that it seems we have failed in achieving a key factor: transforming the way women perceive and interact with each other…. Read More ›

• Islam Is Out There, Among Women by Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente

  By Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente on May 21, 2015 • ( 8 )

  

  Last week I was touring the capital of my country, Chile, for conferences and workshops on Islam, Gender and Human Rights. One of the issues I address there was the tyranny of stereotypes Muslim women carry with us and the… Read More ›

• Oh, Yes! On a Sexual Revolution in Islam by Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente

  By Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente on April 16, 2015 • ( 30 )

  

  For centuries, religions have controlled sexuality. They have defined the legitimate options with regard to gender, sexual orientation, how to make love and its purpose. The religious discourse on sex imposes patriarchy, binarism, marriage, monogamy, motherhood and heterosexuality as sine… Read More ›

• Enemy of (H)Islam by Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente

  By Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente on March 19, 2015 • ( 31 )

  

  So, again, you, the most holy and enlightened man of the mosque have pointed your finger at me to declare, noisy and hysterical, that I am an “Enemy of Islam.” Then you, who preaches and recites best, have gone out… Read More ›

• Queer in Islam and a Theology of Dissent by Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente

  By Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente on February 19, 2015 • ( 19 )

  

  Most of the time, when we talk about being “Queer in Islam,” we identify the term with a hermeneutics developed by or on behalf of LGTBQI Muslims in order to allow their inclusion in religious spaces and recognize their agency in matters of… Read More ›

• Breaking The Silence About Sexual Violence by Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente

  By Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente on February 7, 2015 • ( 38 )

  

  My last article for Feminism and Religion had a very brief reference to an episode of sexual violence; since its publication I have received emails from women who decided to tell me their experiences with rape and abuse. I am… Read More ›

• Islamic Feminism, Body Autonomy and Spiritual Liberation by Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente

  By Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente on January 13, 2015 • ( 16 )

  

  Women’s bodies are the preferred territory in which religious oppression becomes cruelly evident. Misogynist narratives in religions are always addressed to them: decency, honor, virtue, holiness, discretion, and shame are embodied in us, We pay for the absence of these… Read More ›

• A Women’s Mosque: An Interfaith Space for Feminist Spirituality by Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente

  By Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente on November 29, 2014 • ( 13 )

  

  If you thought that all I could do in regards to feminism and religion is challenge Patriarchy and tease around ladies and gentlemen of good temper and better reputation with my corrosive comments, this post may change your mind. As… Read More ›

• Racism from Born Muslim Men is Hurting Latino Muslim Women by Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente

  By Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente on August 23, 2014 • ( 78 )

  

  One of the first things a newly Muslim woman convert learns is that Islam makes people equal and the only thing that differentiates a believer from another believer is their level of piety. They also learn that Islam raises the… Read More ›

• Five Years of Untamed Spirituality and Challenging Feminism by Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente

  By Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente on May 29, 2014 • ( 12 )

  

  In Chilean tradition, the number five has an important meaning regarding the understanding of life. At 5, a person starts school and  life in society. At 15, we celebrate the entrance into the young adulthood. At 25, it is expected… Read More ›

• My Afternoon with Amina Wadud: Some Pearls of Wisdom for a Warm Autumn in Santiago by Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente

  By Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente on March 29, 2014 • ( 11 )

  

  Albert Einstein said that there are two ways for understanding life: One, to believe nothing is a miracle; the other, to believe everything is a miracle. I think life is a bit of both. There are experiences that result from… Read More ›