Daily Life Generic Index

Don't ask athletes to set aside politics 'in the spirit of the Olympics'

Ruby Hamad Ruby Hamad says the Lebanese team's refusal to allow Israel onto their bus has plenty of precedent.

#MenInHijab is not a protest of Islam, it's part of an ongoing battle against the Iran government

Ruby Hamad The more we target Islam as a whole instead of the power structures exploiting it, the less support we lend to progressives like these men and women.

Why I have mixed feelings about waving goodbye to the Obamas

Ruby Hamad Ruby Hamad has spent the past eight years in inner conflict about Obama's presidency. And it's not about to change should Clinton take over the job.

Muslim identity

Like Sam Dastyari, I am a non-practicing Muslim. Why is that hard to accept?

Ruby Hamad This is what people need to understand about virulent Islamophobes: They believe they have a better understanding of Islam and Muslims than Muslims do.

Honour killing

No, we don't need to come up with a new word for 'honour killing'

Ruby Hamad The murder of Pakistani social media star Qandeel Baloch has reignited debate about the term. Here's why Ruby Hamad believes it is the most appropriate way to describe such murders.

Animal rights

Admit it. Mike Baird has finally done something right with his greyhound racing ban

Ruby Hamad Ruby Hamad feels like she's woken up in Opposite Land this week.

Excusing racism

'Classwashing' Australia's racism problem won't make it disappear

Ruby Hamad Even more extraordinary than the results of recent elections is how racist voting habits are being explained away, writes Ruby Hamad.

Brexit irony

Here's three reasons not to call Brexit the UK's 'Independence Day'

Ruby Hamad Jokes aside, the idea that Brexit is a win for “independence” is a fantasy that must not be legitimised, Ruby Hamad writes.

Long face syndrome

If you ask me 'why the long face?' you might be surprised by the answer

Ruby Hamad Would you believe the way you breathe can change your facial structure? Ruby Hamad recently found out the hard way.

Mythbusting film

'Muslim women are not always victims. They're fighters'

Ruby Hamad Filmmakers Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Geeta Ghandbir cut through prevailing stereotypes in their work, and their latest doco about Bangladeshi women peacekeepers is no exception.

Climbing costs

The ego trip of a lifetime: Our obsession with climbing Everest comes at a price

Ruby Hamad It's time to end the farce; Sherpa climb mountains, everyone else just stands on their shoulders.

Fighting colourism

Anti-black racism is not just the domain of white societies

Ruby Hamad Anti-blackness is where racial discrimination begins, and must be the first thing to go, writes Ruby Hamad.

Ruby Hamad

Why Christian and Muslim fundamentalists actually aren't enemies

Ruby Hamad Far from being natural enemies, these groups have been working together behind the scenes to advance a regressive social agenda at the UN.

Q&A;

When will Q&A; stop discussing Muslims without any Muslims present?

Ruby Hamad Almost every week, Q&A; panellists talk about Muslims. But how often do the people who are the topic of conversation get to speak?

Peacekeeper or predator?

The devastating irony of calling UN troops 'peacekeepers'

Ruby Hamad When those literally employed to "keep the peace" are running illegal brothels, raping with impunity, and forcing children to perform sex acts with dogs, the term has lost all legitimate meaning.

Refugee parenting

For these women in Lebanon, going to mothers' group is truly a lifeline

Ruby Hamad "We are in difficult situations. We can't even go back to where we came from, and these hard circumstances of make things worse for our kids."