Twilight People
on 23rd May 2017 in Read

Umber: Beyond Woman

credit: Christa Holka

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘In this world, I’m a woman, I feel that I’m not. I feel that I’m so beyond woman.’

Umber is a Muslim, queer, Pakistani-British feminist. Family was an important part of their childhood and although they experienced sexism from their father’s side of their family, their mother and grandmother were strong female role models. Growing up, Umber felt that they did not identify as a girl, or any other gender. They are passionate about activism and community on a personal scale.

‘Unlike a lot of young people raised Muslim, I always thought of my religion as putting women first. I think it’s about what you choose to teach what readings you choose to teach, which parts of the Qu’ran you look at harder, and I think on the whole, objectively, I really do think the Qu’ran is very feminist.
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I think love between marginalised people is very radical.
I think that we need to imagine futures together where we love each other and where fighting for each other is a part
of that love rather than being so individualistic about it. I think community doesn’t exist right now.
Umber is a concept more than a person. I’m like a series of identities that somehow come together. At the same
time as feeling that, in this world, I’m a woman, I feel that I’m not, I feel that I’m so beyond woman,’

 

 

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