Episode 127: Convert to Islam: https://untoislam.com Podcast: https://untoislam.com/podcast About Us: https://untoislam.com/about-us Contact Us: https://untoislam.com/contact-us Live QA Session: https://untoislam.com/live-qa-session Sponsor|Donate|Support|Help Us: https://untoislam.com/donate Host: Adee Simon Macdowell. Guest: Kadijah Michelle. Today we talk to Kadija and Nawal on the topic of convert women and the mosque in the USA and the problems they face due to the cultural ideas of Muslims. Topics discussed include: Kadija's literature review titled "American Muslim Women: Their Relationship with American Mosques" The biggest problems that new Muslims face Why women are excluded from some mosques in the USA The difference between Christians and Muslims with regards to how women interact with their places of worship Eastern cultural Islam vs true Islam How converts are less affected by Eastern cultural Islam Segregation of the sexes in mosques Also: Social services and social support for Muslim women The difference between mono-cultured mosques and mixed mosques that cater for a mix of cultures Cultural conditioning The reasons why women are culturally excluded from mosques The Westerner's expectations of community verses an immigrant's expectations Finding communities besides Islamic communities See Kadija's convert story here: https://untoislam.com/podcast/i-grew-up-in-a-military-household About Kadijah: My name is Kadijah, but I was born Michelle Kastriba. I converted the day before Ramadan in 2004 when I was 24 years old, and I will be 41 in a couple months. I grew up as an Army Brat. I was born on a Military Installation in West Germany (it was still the Cold War), and moved frequently between the U.S. and Europe as a child until my father retired from the Army and we settled in Pennsylvania in 1995. For several years, I was a pharmacy technician until I decided to go to college to pursue a degree in Economics, and I am currently a Junior at Penn State. I am also a proud and happy homemaker. I am an avid reader, and I love crochet. I am extremely passionate about volunteering and also empowering women. Most of my volunteering has been fundraising activities for Muslim organization including several years that organized and led many campaigns for my local Islamic School. Through the years, I have been asked by different groups in the Harrisburg, PA area to speak about my experiences as a Muslim including a panel at the Harrisburg Masjid and also at Harrisburg Area Community College. Lately, though, I have stepped back from volunteering and fundraising to focus on gaining knowledge. My focus now is to become an Islamic Educator for Women. I believe we desperately need them. I think what is most important about my experience is that I was born and raised Catholic. Even though I went to Church and Catholic school, I always felt something wasn't right, and I would pray for God to guide me. I grew in a military household at the end of the Cold War and the beginning of the War on Terror. Before I became a Muslim, my family and I had a very negative opinion of Islam and it's followers because that was the culture that we were exposed to. Then I started working as a clerk with two wonderful Muslims, and I started learning that Islam is not what happened on September 11, but so much more...it was the answer to my prayers. Alhumdilillah. About the Becoming Muslim Podcast Do you have questions about Islam? Are you looking for a new direction in life? The Becoming Muslim podcast at https://untoislam.com is made for those who are in the midst of researching Islam. It also suits newly converted Muslims. Our podcast offers a wide variety of audible resources. From captivating stories of converts to discussions on day to day Islamic practices, Unto Islam allows for each individual to cater to their spiritual needs. Find out: (1) How to convert to Islam (2) What it means to be Muslim (3) Why Islam has helped others As Musl