FILM-RELATED WEBSITES
The Light in Her Eyes
In addition to general news and information about the film, the film's site provides links to resources, including interviews with scholars.
On the Screen
This radio interview with the filmmakers covers the film itself, stereotypes of Muslim women, feminism and the changing roles of women in Islam.
Huffington Post: "Inside a Syrian Quran School for Women: The Spiritual Roots of a Revolution"
This review of the film provides background on women in Islam and women's spiritual awakening as part of the Arab Spring.
RESOURCES
Islam, Women and Combating Stereotypes
Muslim Women's League
This U.S. organization offers explanatory position statements on a wide variety of issues related to women living as Muslims in the modern world, as well as links to other relevant resources and organizations.
Institute on Religion and Civic Values
This academic organization provides a wide range of educational resources, including guidelines for teaching about religion in public schools and lesson plans on topics like the meaning of wearing the hijab and the role of religion in current social and political movements.
Carnegie Council: Resources on Islamic Education
This library provides annotated links to papers and organizations that examine Muslim schools.
Middle East Institute: Introduction to Islam: An Online Text
This introductory text about Islam was written by law professor M. Cherif Bassiouni specifically for non-Muslims.
Rethinking Schools: "Save the Muslim Girl!"
This article by -zlem Sensoy and Elizabeth Marshall critically examines the depiction of Muslim girls as victims in Western young adult literature and offers alternative strategies to help students think through the issues.
Shattering the Stereotypes: Muslim Women Speak Out. (Fawzia Afzal-Khan. New York: Olive Branch Press, 2004.) Afzal-Khan offers a comprehensive volume ranging from poetry to memoirs aimed at de-mystifying the Western portrayal of Muslim women and revealing the complexity of their lives.
Syria
Demystifying Syria. (Fred H. Lawson. London: Saqi Books, 2010.) Lawson provides the reader with a critique concerning key aspects of Syria, including politics, economics and society.
Inheriting Syria: Bashar's Trial by Fire. (Flynt Leverett. Washington: Brookings Institution Press, 2005.) This book is a resource for general audiences and academia providing an in-depth look on topics including Syria's occupation of Lebanon, the war on terror, its support of Hezbollah, and the dictatorship under the al-Assad family.