We Are Lady Parts

Bold and irreverent, this thoughtful, well-written series challenges conventional stereotypes about Muslim women. It does so by featuring strong, diverse, tight-knit female characters who embrace their music as much as their faith. The band members -- who represent a variety of racial, ethnic, class, and cultural backgrounds -- collectively view themselves as feminists who are using music to make their voices heard. They also categorically reject the notion that their choice to perform their often confrontational songs is nothing more than an act of rebellion against their community. Meanwhile, Amina, who places more pressure on herself than her parents do when it comes to being a good Muslim woman, finds herself having to come to terms with the fact that playing with the band makes her happy, even if it goes against the conventions she's always tried to live by.

Amina's personal journey isn't an easy one, but thanks to series creator/writer Nida Manzoor's storytelling style, it's presented as a combination of comedic moments, music performances, and parodies of Western TV and movie scenes. And all of the Muslim women portrayed here, regardless of their thoughts about the band, have a strong sense of agency. It's through them that the series offers honest, poignant commentary about what it's like to be a Muslim woman in a world that's constantly judging them for being one, or both, of these things. Overall, We Are Lady Parts successfully delivers a smart, entertaining story that avoids clichéd representations of British Muslim women while taking note of the cultural and social norms that are still an important part of who they are and how they live their lives.