Biggest haul at Grammys goes to record-breaking Beyonce, New York Times

Deadly blast hits Iraq pilgrims, Al Jazeera English

Iran pays homage to Khomeini amid turmoil, Al Arabiya

Muslim feminists deserve to be heard, Sydney Morning Herald

WTFatwa Literally! Media’s Love Affair with “The Fatwa”, elan the mag

The boy who cried “witch”: Saudis investigate domestic workers for witchcraft, AltMuslimah

68% of Saudi girls drop last name on Facebook, Muslimah Media Watch

Director Kathryn Bigelow wins first female top director’s award for Iraq film, Al Arabiya

Women Artists from the Islamic World, AltMuslimah

Why aren’t the networks picking up more pilots created by women?, Jezebel

Define Yourself: Discussions of Women, Feminism and the Arab World, Muslimah Media Watch

Collision of beauty and beliefs The Jakarta Post

Bloomingdale’s Dubai opens, the company’s first location outside of the US, Huffington Post

Egypt beats Ghana, earning African Cup Title, New York Times

Driving me crazy: The BBC’s Muslim Driving School, Muslimah Media Watch

Malaysian court overturns ban on Muslim women book, AFP

Iranian opposition calls for mass protests, Al Jazeera English

Canada to reject burka ban, Toronto Sun

International Muslim women scientists conference opens in Tehran, Tehran Times

This is not an exhaustive list nor one filtered to reflect a particular point of view. Therefore, neither the views expressed in articles nor those neglected by this list should be seen as reflecting Finding Bibi’s views.

Much has been said over the past couple of years about the making over of iconic girls’ cartoon characters like Rainbow Brite and Dora the Explorer. There’s a reason behind the outrage. In a country where girls are exposed to increasingly homogenized images of beauty and trained to wear high heels as quickly as to read, the transformation of what were once some of the least sexualized characters into lush-eyelashed, long-legged fashionistas is troubling, to say the least.

Here’s the old Dora:

The Original Dora the Explorer

The New Dora the Explorer

Horror of Nigeria clashes uncovered, Al Jazeera English

Afghanistan parliamentary election postponed, BBC

Photogs protest UK terror law, CNN

Why am I not German?, IslamInEurope.blogspot.com

From Bikinis to Burkas: How to Write Another Cliched Tell-All Expose, Muslimah Media Watch

Women Behaving Badly in Mosques, AltMuslimah

Feminist Elitism: Trading one hierarchy for another, JessicaValenti.com

Judging an Emcee by Her Cover, Muslimah Media Watch

Wajeha Al-Huwaider, a Feminist in Saudi Arabia, TheFBomb.org

She works. They’re happy., New York Times

Muslims, Copts hold joint cultural events in Milan IslamInEurope.blogspot.com

Hijab tutorial by a 4 year old, HijabiQueen.blogspot.com

The best and worst hijab looks of 2009, StylishMuslimah.blogspot.com

The Onion: Law requires women to name baby, paint nursery before obtaining abortion, Feministing.com

Lebanese designers lace up for Paris catwalks, Al Arabiya

“It was like an entire generation of women artists was missing”, Jezebel

Chris Morris’s terrorist comedy premieres at Sundance, BBC

Documentary on first Iranian female Olympian to premiere at Sundance, National Iranian American Council blog

Kids in high heels stir parent, doctor debate, HuffingtonPost

Muslim stereotypes in Hollywood: Are they really fading?, elan the mag

Mosques to participate in Dutch anti-radicalization program, IslamInEurope.blogspot.com

Sexiness is for everyone (even Muslims), AltMuslimah

Islamic organization urges Muslims to help Haiti, Al Arabiya

This is not an exhaustive list nor one filtered to reflect a particular point of view. Therefore, neither the views expressed in articles nor those neglected by this list should be seen as reflecting Finding Bibi’s views.

While wandering the streets of Prospect Heights, a neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, I came across this mural, entitled “A New Day,” and snapped a photo. According to Groundswell, the nonprofit that supported the work, “the image was conceived by the girls in the group through a series of discussions, writing, and visual art activities.” Here’s their take on the image:

Ten figures, representing the participants in the program, stand proudly surrounded by waves, backed by a golden sky. Each girl is wearing a gown that depicts another reality- each gown shows one of ten tenants, describing major components of strong women building safe communities. From top to bottom, left to right, this is how they read:

-High literacy and good schools
-Involvement in the media making process and critical consumption of that which is presented to us
-Involvement in the political process
-Financial independence
-High employment and career alternatives
-Parental supervision and involvement
-Healthy bodies, healthy foods
-Honoring the ancestors (portrait depicts Judy Chicago)
-After School Programs
-Clean streets, green streets

The 10 figures are looking into the sunrise, pensive and optimistic. A young woman and child stand facing the figures, in front of an abstracted Brooklyn skyline, also optimistic. The young, Muslim girl holds a dove in her hand hoping that it is indeed, a new day.

> Learn more about the Prospect Heights mural.

What do you think of “A New Day?”