What does my headscarf mean to you? | Yassmin Abdel-Magied | TEDxSouthBank

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Unconscious bias is a prevalent factor driving culture, causing us all to make assumptions based on our own upbringings and influences. Such implicit prejudice affects everything, and it's time for us to be more thoughtful, smarter, better. In this funny, honest talk, Yassmin Abdel-Magied uses a surprising way to challenge us all to look beyond our initial perceptions.

[@PortalLogout]

that example of the surgeon was actually beautifully depicted. I think she did a wonderful job talking about bias it was amazing

[@XxXHellbringerXxX]

andrew yip I disagree. The reason we think it is a male surgeon is because of the male cues she uses prior to mentioning the surgeon. She uses male pronouns 8 times during the story, predisposing you to subconsciously thinking the surgeon is male.

[@aqilafrh]

Disliking all the mean comments, Yup... All... This woman is amazing....

[@litzburger]

We usually look at you and don't give a shit. My grandma used to wear scarves like those on her head in the 50's

[@vickyvey1657]

As a woman working in Visual Effects, a very much white male-dominated industry, I have to apply to many more jobs (more than 300) until I get offered one at a below salary/rate of my skills...and it's very common to a current junior to outpace me and become my boss in a couple of years... so basically my career is stagnant...

[@sindibadmoroplovac8240]

أعوذُ بِٱللَّهِ مِنَ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنِ ٱلرَّجِيمِ بِسْمِ الله ألاَوَّلُ وَ ألآخِرُ وَيْلٌ لِّكُلِّ هُمَزَةٍ لُّمَزَةٍ . الَّذِي جَمَعَ مَالًا وَعَدَّدَهُ . يَحْسَبُ أَنَّ مَالَهُ أَخْلَدَهُ . كَلَّا لَيُنبَذَنَّ فِي الْحُطَمَةِ . وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا الْحُطَمَةُ . نَارُ اللَّهِ الْمُوقَدَةُ .الَّتِي تَطَّلِعُ عَلَى الْأَفْئِدَةِ . إِنَّهَا عَلَيْهِم مُّؤْصَدَةٌ . فِي عَمَدٍ مُّمَدَّدَةٍ.

[@ramaraksha01]

May I ask how non-muslims are treated back in her country? not one Muslim-majority nation is secular - in each and every one of them there are 2 sets of citizens - one the majority muslim gets to own all the top jobs, the top everything & minority non-muslims are relegated to 2nd class status Islamic laws, blasphemy laws threaten their very existence each and every day Of course Muslims are happy to judge people by religion when they are the majority It's when they are on the other side, as a minority - suddenly they get all this enlightenment The most-two faced people on the planet

[@PaulaSB12]

`its not the headscarf that counts but the face mask which says I will not be part of the country

[@anthonyzav3769]

where did all the christians in Lebanon go? why can't non-muslims go to mecca?

[@maryam9996]

Anthony Zav um... cause Mecca is busy enough w the millions and millions of Muslims who visit yearly and it would be physically impossible to fit non Muslims in, so priority is given to the Muslims cuz they actually have a REASON and obligation to go there? And where did the Muslims in India go? This thing was abt bias yet u just couldn’t stop urself from spouting ur islamophobia. Well done lad!

[@abdishakourmo5004]

Anthony Zav Every one can go to mecca but it has special visa and you need to get that before you get there and the visa Is just to say I bear witness that there is no deity to worship except Allah (the one God) and i bear witness that muhamad is the last and final prophet.

[@tinmanx2222]

I have noticed that some of the people that whine about racial politics are not from the US. They bash the US, but never talk about how it is in their country. Go back home. Help your mother country overcome its problems. She said I have unconscious bias and you have unconscious bias its in everyone but I am going to talk about you. No thanks lady, go stand in a corner and contemplate your unconscious bias.

[@rinconusmc]

Ohh look... another professional victim.

[@JessBlake2]

+Oscar Rincon , Oh look, another person who doesn't understand the definition of common words like victim. Yep pointing out that she runs an oil rig or designed race cars and ran a team, or is a trained boxer is definitely being a victim. You didn't even bother to listen to the talk, lol.

[@zooweemama2794]

Jess Blake You missed the point of the common. She's bitching about nothing. That's the term "professional victim"

[@ARNGcandy]

Mark Novak you just described a European-immigrant (pale skin female), lol. We can be that and I'm OK with it on my white skin.

[@vynn86]

I spat at that comment yo!

[@Insid01]

Thank you Yassmin for this super interesting presentation. Yeah, the content may not give the exact answer (what most of the viewers may seek for) to the headline.. but I found a perfect wording to my own old idea - we are not born equal: the circumstances of one's birth shouldn't dictate on one's future. Nobody in the world can't choose the family, the religion, the society, the country, the region we are born in.. And to charge someone on his/her looks or birth circumstances is petty! If you want to say smth bad to someone, think as if you were this person, what would you feel?

[@ayaneadawe2987]

Such a great lady keep dear may Allah bless you ""

[@TypicalTonk]

This talk made me think a lot. Mainly about why did I just waste 14 minutes watching this baseless drivel?

[@TheTebhes]

I live in Turkey. Day by day, we go back to the dark ages. And every day, more women wear that dark age symbol.

[@staples1204]

Good.

[@marinachaudhry6054]

What an inspirational talk, Jasmin. Thanks for sharing with the world. I solute you! Will share your speech and challenge others.

Muslim women are supposed to wear the niqab not the hijab and it is compulsory according to authentic hadith. Hijab is just the transition process by which human behaviour change over period of time and new types order develop to new generations let by various imams and islamic scholars. The process is also seen as the force which directs the course of evolution by preserving those traits from niqab to hijab in order for women to survive dating men before marriage. Women have tended to think in terms of a gradual and natural evolution of their rights to be seen and to be identified.

[@Mu3azOsman]

I love you! you're awesome!!!

[@darrenknight443]

your extreme fan.

[@jezaraknid314]

Great talk, Yassmin was also just. FANtastic when she came on Triple J Hack.

[@clementnade972]

Delusional

[@KillahManjaro]

Someone is intimated by a beautiful, Smart and Ambitious Lady.

[@russe19642]

I dont look at you,thats prejudice or bias to what you think of who i am.

[@VickViciouse]

A play on words doesn't prove "Unconscious bias"

[@infotrad]

That is all they do, play on words because they refuse to respect secularism.

[@tes741]

Ahahha the way she is explaing make me think that she think she is killing it omfg!!

[@jehanwanliss6165]

The dead silence in the room though...Love her presentation.

[@krisschirmer-designerartis1933]

the orchestra photograph, to me, looks more like 1870/1880 rather than 1970/1980. ;)

[@2msvalkyrie529]

Let me guess ? You are really proud of your background and Religion but you choose to live in the West rather than an Islamic country ? I wonder why ..?

[@TheWolfbay]

so far every ted talk i heard regarding islam is about how great it is and how we are offensive racists for not agreeing, and completely ignores or treats as non muslim action anything that is bad

[@yellooh]

Things happening in New Zealand & some see it very differently than the loss of life. Bias is a great term though stereotypes linger more. Equality is key.

[@syedibrahimkhalleelullah2538]

hijab is treasure for one believing women .... when one women Wear she hijab she feel secure himself ...

[@jasonhorstman8386]

awesome presentation!!

[@jeffbarr5714]

Tried to view the whole video but her constant references that she is the victim really turned me off and I had to turn it off. Pitty, because listening to other points of views can be beneficial and educational. To be honest, the things she said at the start of her video about what I think when I see certain garments was way off the mark.

[@fartunmomarhassan3681]

It's inspiring

[@kaym666]

Extremely pretentious

[@MrBlututh]

Great presentation Quite thought provoking....

[@krisschirmer-designerartis1933]

other than that, the talk is an inspiration. thank you, yassmin! you are an inspiration ;) kris

[@daniellequitewhite]

You're wonderful, Yassmin.

[@albertogutierrez8653]

John Forbes I am done! What the hell is wrong with these people? Mr. Forbes, I wonder if white people applaud this non sense out guilt. Baffling! I grew up with a family from Pakistan. Very religious. I was too young to understand the family dynamics and their religion. As grew older, I realized what an insidious religion it was, especially how the girl were raised. They have no agency. I am a Brown person. I don't know what it really means. I care about ideas, equality, and being free. This identity politics and victimization is going to end very badly.

[@Dee-oq4cp]

OMG..Can so relate to what she is saying..

[@shamsiaakbarzadeh641]

wow this was so inspiring:)

[@JohnnyPunchClock]

This is the most racist shit I've heard all day

[@XxMySsTiCxX]

I love how people want a talk to be so generic, passionless and without and contradictory or controversial topics or thoughts. Yeah that would really get you thinking wouldn't it....

[@aysegul.c7709]

omggggg woow she is amazing

[@floyd123kl]

I assumed it was a guy becuse I think of gay people when we talk about families lmao

[@sgma4m]

Why did this woman not wear a beard to be equal to man?

[@ayeshaartacademy3818]

does ur women wear beard

[@sgma4m]

@@ayeshaartacademy3818 - Unlike the Sharia law, we did not enforce woman to wear hair, face, body covering or beard for Allah's sake ... exception a face mask for health reason at the pandemic time... like the Chinese Covid-19 time

[@waleed.akhair9548]

Amazing talk Yassmin, thought provoking and engaging :)

[@darrenknight443]

go to your homeland and tell them all she is coming to free all woman.

[@murattasan389]

muhteşem

[@amirfawzanzainal1991]

All of that amazing points n wonderful thoughts n ideas, and then there's suddenly me smiling being proud at 6:45

[@marktutana4767]

I agree that unconscious bias exists and your proposed solution is sound but I think there are bigger problems that a person with a platform like yourself should be tackling. Consider addressing other fellow Muslims, specifically the radical factions, and help them open the door to peace and equality by reforming fundamental ideologies of your religion. You have the potential to change them.

[@vijays7579]

Other than you trying to tell us you are different from us, you are not one of us. Other than that you need to wear a symbol so loud as to have put it on your head. Other than that given a chance all head scarf's can get together against open heads, it tells me nothing. Nothing about patriarchy, inequality, exploitation or when a woman is put in a sack and stoned. It tells me just, so little. 😅

[@mussaratjabeen9945]

Excellent

[@truthwillrulex777]

her "reeiight?"s cringe me but she is amazing.

[@akramtobbieh3415]

the Bible says Christian woman have to wear head scarf ,if they don't wear a scarf they have to shave their hair .

[@Smithpolly]

Akram Tobbieh : So what?

[@albertogutierrez8653]

Akram Tobbieh That was hundreds of years ago. Let me get this. You don't like non Muslims criticizing your religion and telling you how to apply your deen. Then, you try to tell Christians how to apply their religion. Your arrogance is breathtaking.

[@zapre2284]

Apart from it dosn't say any such thing . It does mention the covering of hair during times of prayer. 1 Corinthians 11:6 ESV / 72 "For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head."

[@victoriak789]

No one cares

[@grahamparker538]

to willingly subjugate your self....i call it

[@investertiger3777]

I wish she was not Muslim. She would have been an awesome Atheist.

[@JimRoberts-mg2kc]

NO ISLAM....PERIOD

[@peterrobijn967]

HALLELUJAH: JERUSALEM = ISRAEL.

[@bethechangeyouwannaseeinth9488]

u are annnnnnn

[@richardadamwais9734]

from djibouti you are so strange who behave differ kind .the muslims woman can't behave much kind

[@ramboman2064]

she should stick to fixing cars

[@akramtobbieh3415]

rambo man she is Engineer Architect Journist woman young and Muslim , when she was still in high school she did associate helping people from different cultures and races and still helping others . she has did more than you achieve in your life time .

[@ramboman2064]

I am a mechanical engineer and also have worked in construction structural and building designer and A and I never heard of her and with her big mouth helps no one

[@albertogutierrez8653]

A piece of cloth. How trivial.

[@wogboy1705]

Sheets are for beds not for heads!!!!

[@kindlelight8888]

Do it in Somalia forest