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Entity reports on why reporting on a woman's hijab is important to understanding other cultures.

There are 3.3 million Muslims in the US to date and in 2011, one in six American Muslim women reported wearing a hijab. Despite these trends, Ibtihaj Muhammad made headlines not only for her accomplishments as a skilled swords-woman, but also because she represents a public face rarely seen in American media and entertainment.

Why? Muhammad is the first US Olympian to wear a hijab.

News sites everywhere are leading with her religious clothing rather than her accomplishments, but not without good reason. Muhammad’s presence at the Olympics is perhaps as equally important as her impressive accomplishments (she ranks second in the US for fencing and 12 worldwide).

In fact, the response to Mohammed has been overwhelmingly positive and inspirational. She’s had countless profiles, has met the President, fenced with the First Lady and received support from celebrities like Sarah Silverman.

During a time when Islamophobia seems to divide the country, public terrorism is increasing and Donald Trump calls for a ban of all Muslim refugees, having a black hijab-wearing woman stand proud as she represents the US in a public sporting event is inspiring to many .

In fact, her presence is even more important because very few Americans know anything about Islamic culture. Despite a growing Muslim population and Islam’s dominance in political discussion, a  2010 survey showed that 35 percent of Americans said they knew a little bit about Islam and 25 percent reported knowing nothing about the culture at all.

As Muhammed herself told the BBC, “In this particular political climate in the history of this country, it is groundbreaking to have a Muslim woman on the U.S. team.”

After losing the individual tournament on August 8, the support hasn’t staggered. The Huffington Post headlines that Muhammad won something bigger than a gold medal. Yahoo News proclaims that her “impact will endure.”

Muhammad represents a path for American Muslim women to become athletes. She proves that no sport has to belong to one type of person, that there is room for diversity in this nation. Despite America’s recent struggles with the message of peace and inclusion, it seems that Muhammad is making an inspirational impact for Muslim women everywhere.

Edited by Ellena Kilgallon
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