The Salon Series IV

Exploring the impact of 18th century issues today and beyond

We are so excited to announce our next Salon Series guest ~ Romana Mirza, 2nd Year PhD Student, Ryerson and York Universities.

Exploring the impact of 18th century issues today and beyond, as featured in our exhibition The Great Divide, we hope you can join us as Romana sits down (virtually) with Creative Director & Senior Curator Elizabeth Semmelhack on December 9th, 2020.

Identity Performance and Privilege – Shifting Perceptions of Modesty and Disproving Stereotypes

Starting with ideas of modesty in the 18th century, join us as guest speaker Romana Mirza discusses the impact colonizers had on the culture and society of the “biblical lands”, specifically focusing on the loss of rights for women. The discussion will also fast forward to the 21st century and consider the increasing visibility of hijabis to discuss how different bodies are put in harm’s way or granted privilege based on sartorial expression.

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ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Romana Mirza brings 25+ years’ experience as a marketing professional and brand strategist to her scholarly work. She is a second year PhD student in the Communication and Culture program offered jointly by Ryerson and York Universities in Toronto, Canada. Her dissertation will be exploring distinctions in modest fashion for men, women and trans* people with the goal to explore modest sartorial practices as a point of connection as opposed to a point of division. Her research will challenge Islamophobic assumptions surrounding modest dressing and the dominant narrative that marginalizes Muslim women who dress modestly. She hopes to address the stigma that has long been associated with modesty and transform narrow understandings and stereotypes in order to advance inclusion.