Prompt #6- Applying Duffy and Hund's Tropes to Muslim Fashion Blogger Maryam

Recognizing the prevalence and impact of blogging in the modern day, authors Duffy and Hund analyze the presence of three main themes in female blog pictures and narratives. In this post, I bring in a new case— a Muslim fashion blogger Maryam Asadullah (@sincerelymaryam)—and analyze the presence of Duffy and Hund’s three main tropes, while also discovering a new theme. 

1. The Destiny of Passionate Work: On her website's "Get to know me!" page, Maryam eloquently states her reasons for blogging by stating “My goal through this platform is to empower women like you to stay fashionable whilst being draped in dignity.” This statement conveys the overarching idea that blogging is a predestined activity for Maryam, as it is her calling to explore elements of fashion and modesty. Regardless of the amount of money she makes from blogging, Maryam dedicates a lot of time and resources to this passion, as depicted by the professional cameras and other technologies she sports in her pictures.

Maryam Displays her Camera to Showcase the Labor of Blogging

  2.) The Glam Life: Utilized as a mechanism to balance the “labor” aspect of blogging, Maryam’s posts reveal elements of traveling, exclusivity, and luxury. As explained by Duffy and Hund, bloggers are able to elevate their social status via associations with celebrities. For example, on her Instagram, Maryam posts a photo of her speaking with The Tonight Show’s Jimmy Fallon. Additionally, we see glamour exemplified through the many images of Chanel handbags and Steve Madden pumps, most often characterized as gifts from big name fashion companies.

 Maryam on The Tonight Show

3.) Carefully Curated Social Sharing: Maryam utilizes scripts that enable her to be simultaneously relatable and aspirational. Paying homage to her family, Maryam references her sister’s support in helping her launch a Hijab scarf brand. Also, loving pictures of Maryam and her husband are sprinkled throughout her Instagram. However, even with these relatable factors, Maryam rarely, if ever, posts pictures of herself looking sub-par, giving viewers the impression that she is seemingly perfect.

Maryam and her Fiance Celebrating their Pregnancy

 

One theme I noticed throughout my analysis of Maryam’s blog posts was her constant reference to her Muslim faith. Instead of displaying authenticity by taking pictures in her lounging clothes wearing no makeup, she chooses to display legitimacy to her Muslim followers via quotes from the Quran and in the way she dresses. In all of her pictures, Maryam is sporting the traditional hijab, modestly covering her hair and the sides of her face. Additionally, in one of her posts, Maryam is wearing a shirt with Arabic writing, which seems to make note of her political involvement in the Israeli-Palestine conflict. I would argue that in addition to following suit with Duffy and Hund’s tropes, Maryam also forms an authentic image through elements of her faith. But what about the fact that Islamaphobia has recently infiltrated into Western mainstream political thought? Maryam is probably aware that she may be at a risk of losing followers by proclaiming her Muslim identity. The unfortunate fact that she may never be able to reach national prominence as a fashion blogger due to racism is discouraging but also christens her as a symbol of strength for the millions of other Muslims who have a passion for fashion. 

One of Maryam's Instagram Posts References her Faith

Arabic Writing (Relation to Israel-Palestine Conflict)