Today's episode is with Alberta Leader, Dr. Muna Saleh. In this conversation, I speak with Muna about our stories as mothers, women, and educators. You will learn about the danger of the single story and how—as individuals—we might try to categorize ourselves and others into one box. Dr. Saleh shares with us how she intentionally disrupts this single story narrative, whether it's through her research, her interaction with her students, or using humour on her Twitter feed.
We also speak to difficult stories. And why it's so important as adults not to minimize difficult conversations with our children or students. But at the same time, we must provide a way forward with our stories, we must provide an element of hope and action. Finally, Dr. Saleh speaks to stories that have been planted within us, and that grow within us, often without our knowing. Narratives such as being the "good" mother, the "good" daughter, the "good" teacher. And how we can recognize them and—with the support of other women—re-story our own personal narratives.
About Dr. Muna Saleh:
Dr. Muna Saleh is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education at Concordia University of Edmonton. Drawing upon her experiences as a Canadian Muslim woman, mother, educator, and researcher, Muna’s doctoral research was a narrative inquiry into the experiences of Canadian Muslim girls and their mothers. Prior to graduate studies, she was an elementary and secondary school teacher and leader.
Her research interests include multiperspectival narrative inquiry, mothering and motherhood, conceptions of curriculum, familial curriculum-making, and research alongside children and youth with disabilities and their families. She is the authour of, "Stories We Live and Grow By: (Re)Telling Our Experiences as Muslim Mothers and Daughters."
Dr. Muna Saleh is a mother, wife, daughter, writer, researcher and advocate.
Photo Credits for Dr. Muna Saleh: https://www.instagram.com/fo_photography/
Resources:
In this episode, Dr. Muna Saleh offers a wealth of resources on women's stories, education, and feminism. Below are some of the resources mentioned today.
Books
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, "We Should All Be Feminists"
Sara Ahmed, "Living a Feminist Life"
Dr. Bettina Love, "We Want to Do More Than Survive"
Dr. Muna Saleh, "Stories We Live and Grow By: (Re)Telling Our Experiences as Muslim Mothers and Daughters"
Ted Talk:
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, The danger of a single story