Trauma existentially transforms us – both for the worse and better. Our assumptions about safety and trust are shattered and worldviews alter. All of these changes transpire in the context of culture. This presentation shares narrative of three Muslim women who experienced trauma in cultural sanctuaries which were meant to be the safe places. Instead of salience and submission, these brave souls defied cultural norms and transformed their traumas into growth, resilience, and purpose. You will hear narratives of posttraumatic growth of three Muslim Women. They are:
Sara Dekker: a Moroccan-Dutch survivor of sexual violence, Sara transformed her trauma into The Safe Space club which teaches women coping mechanism, boundary setting, and educates them staying safe.
Nadia Jamil: a Pakistani actress, who is also a survivor of sexual abuse, has dedicated her life to supporting girls from marginalized background. Using theatre and drama, she has dedicated her life to supporting children who have suffered sexual abuse.
Mahnoor Ali: a self-identified transgender woman, a trans-right activist and HIV activist, Mahnoor leads a trans-gender community and has implemented multiple projects supporting trans community. Through advocacy, she has worked tirelessly for legal and legislative supports for the transgender community of Pakistan.