Women honor Rashida Tlaib by wearing Palestinian gowns as she is sworn into Congress CNN
on Thursday became the first Palestinian American woman to be sworn in to Congress. Weeks ago, she announced she would to the ceremony and she kept her word.
A thobe is a hand embroidered gown that comes in a range of designs and colors, and often signifies the village from where the wearer hails. Most Palestinian women have at least one of these special dresses in their closets, and wearing one is seen as a show of pride for their culture and heritage.
Women and girls wore their thobes as part of a social media campaign to honor the Michigan Democrat. Some posted photos on Twitter and Instagram with , while others traveled to the Capitol to greet Tlaib in their gowns.
"It was a very proud day for me and for all Palestinian people, especially proud for Palestinian girls and women," said Alice Muaddi, who traveled from New Jersey to Washington to greet Tlaib in her thobe. Muaddi emigrated from a Palestinian village to the United States in the 1960s.
Tlaib, whose parents are also Palestinian immigrants, filled the seat formerly occupied by Democratic Rep. John Conyers, who left office last year amid accusations of sexual misconduct. She ran unopposed in the general election after her August primary win in Michigans 13th Congressional District.
"I have been in the USA for 52 years and today I felt that her win is for every Palestinian American girl and woman. She is an inspiration and a role model to all of us," Muaddi said.
A solidarity movement is born on social media
When Tlaib shared that she would be wearing a thobe to the ceremony, Susan Muaddi Darraj was delighted. Yet some people on social media werent so kind, saying wearing the dress would be un American.
The professor and novelist from Maryland created the TweetYourThobe hashtag on social media, asking people to share photos of themselves in the traditional garment. She wanted to do something to educate people, while also celebrating Tlaibs achievement, she said.
"Palestinian American women all have these thobes. They are given to us by our mothers and are often handed down through families," Muaddi Darraj explained. "They are worn to very special occasions, weddings, baptisms and graduations, so its very appropriate shes wearing this dress, which her mother gave her, to her swearing in."
Tlaib wearing her thobe sends a message, said Muaddi Darraj, a first generation Palestinian American. Alice Muaddi, the woman who traveled to the Capitol to meet Tlaib, is her mother.
"She is wearing it because her mother made that dress for her. That dress is like her way of attesting to her mothers hard work and love. I respect her so much for wearing it," she said.
When Muaddi Darraj saw all the images of girls and women, and even entire families of women, sharing their photos, she said she was overwhelmed.
"They are handmade, and it can take months to make one of these dresses. To see these women showing these off in a moment of pride and celebration, Im excited and inspired by it," Muaddi Darraj said.
"Our culture gets misrepresented so often. Portraying our culture in this authentic manner is so important to me," she said.
Women who said they arent Palestinian also posted messages of support, some wearing thobes as well, which touched Muaddi Darraj.
Women of Palestinian heritage dressed to support her
Renad Uri is a Palestinian American who lives in Ramallah, West Bank. She shared a photo of her and her niece wearing their thobes in support of Tlaib. Uri worked on Capitol Hill for two years and for her, Tlaib joining Congress is significant.
"Ive been shut down by staffers for being Palestinian and for being a woman. Its amazing for me to now have Tlaibs concrete role that no one can put down or kick out of their offices," she said. Uri interned with a lobbying organization on Capitol Hill and recently graduated from college.
"Its so gratifying to see someone thats a woman and a Palestinian loving our culture and heritage, making sure that everyone sees it and feels it," the 22 year old said.
Zaha Hassan got to meet Tlaib on the steps of the Capitol on Thursday. And bonus, Bernie Sanders was there.
Hassan dressed in her thobe and to greet and welcome her to Washington. Other women did the same, showing up in their familys thobes. Some traveled from cities across the country.
"Im very proud to have a Palestinian American representative from Michigan in Washington. Its been very difficult for Palestinians to engage in the political process," said Hassan, who is a fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
"Its remarkable, historic and gives us hope that Palestinian Americans can be part of the fabric of this democracy and participating on equal footing with the rest of the citizens in this country," the 49 year old said.
Having a Palestinian American in Congress signals change, but this moment is about more than that, says the social media movements creator Muaddi Darraj. She said shes thrilled Native American women and other women of diverse backgrounds have also been elected to office.
"This is a very American moment," she said. "We have a Congress that finally looks like our country and thats incredibly thrilling to me. Its about time."
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