From the divine to the infantilized, these playful self-portraits illustrate the desires, stereotypes, and diversity of Muslim women.

These 12 self-portraits show at least three different perspectives on the Islamic head scarf. In the photographs we see a woman with the headscarf. On the one hand you see the headscarf from the desired perspective of Muslims, while on the other you see it from the cliched perspective of non-Muslims. The women with the red headscarf represents the many facets of a Muslima, which usually do not conform to the usual stereotypes of a Muslim woman. 

About the Author

Feriel Bendjama was born in 1980 near Dresden, Germany. She grew up in both Germany and Algeria and now lives and works in Berlin. She explores the topics of cultural and religious identity, maternity, and health in her photography and video work. For more information on her current exhibitions and art work visit her website.

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