Barriers & Rehana Mirza

Barriers, by Rehana Mirza, was something different for us to read, since it was a play that I definitely would not have picked up on my own. But nonetheless, I enjoyed it and would more than likely read more of her work in the future. Aside from Barriers, I was more so thoroughly impressed with Mirza herself. She is a Leopold scholar, a member of a prominent writer's lab, and the recipient of several very influential awards. She herself has a very impressive resume and I think her intelligence was definitely reflected in her writing. Barriers is about a Muslim family who expects their only daughter, Sunima, to come home and announce her engagement. The story is centered around that, but focused much on how Sunima's family must deal with their past betrayals and issues, which eventually boil over. Reading about the Mirza's story depicting the Muslim family, especially considering where our country stands today with Muslims today, was something I enjoyed reading and really gave me a little bit more insight. Since the play was focused around post-September 11th, it kind of depicts how this Muslim family is struggling to inherently be Americans. I was a little empathetic when reading Barriers, because I saw how what this family was going through was true and could cause serious tension and conflict among them. In my own community, I see how, even after so many years after September 11th, people are treating Muslims very differently and also very harshly. I feel like this family in Barriers is trying to overcome the now stereotype for a Muslim, while all the same still trying to keep to their ways. They seemed to me like they were trying to be American, without actually becoming American. It does not really make much sense, but when you really study that phrase, it does. Sumina's family is trying to cope with their own personal issues and "be Muslim", while still wanting to be American. So overall, I really enjoyed Rehana Mirza's Barriers, and thought it was most definitely one of the most well developed plays that we have read so far in Women Studies. I thought that her writing was an extremely in-depth play that not only captivated me as a reader, but also depicted some real life issues and problems that still exist within America today. I was very much impressed and look forward to pursuing more of her writing in the future.