By Serin Sarsour
Growing up Arab and Muslim, and being a woman in the legal world, Attorney Yasmin Dwedar has learned to navigate discrimination and mental health while also helping those dealing with similar issues. In honor of Women’s History Month, Dwedar joined Brooklyn College’s Women’s and Gender Studies in an event called “Women Empowering Women” on Mar. 8, where she offered advice to fellow women.
“We must push ourselves to acknowledge and discuss discrimination in the workplace and the lack of opportunities a lot of the underserved and underrepresented and marginalized communities are faced with,” said Dwedar, “in order to make change and allow for people of all backgrounds to have the resources to become leaders.”
Dwedar is an alumna of Hunter College, the CUNY Graduate Center, and the CUNY School of Law. She currently serves as a supervising attorney at a nonprofit called the Crime Victims Treatment Center. The CVTC has been operating since 1977, and it provides survivors of sexual assault, rape, domestic violence, intimate partner violence, and other forms of abuse with free healing services. These services include crisis intervention, individual and group therapy, and legal advocacy. Prior to working at the CVTC, Dwedar worked as a prosecutor in the state and federal courts.
To begin the Zoom event, Secondary Education Professor Namulundah Florence asked those who joined to think of two women who have greatly influenced them. She then asked all of the participants to unmute themselves and share the women they thought of simultaneously.
“We honor these people and pledge to them to pass on the baton. In years to come, may someone call out your name in a space like this,” Florence said.
Dwedar was then introduced by President Michelle Anderson, who recalled their first meeting when Anderson was Dean of CUNY School of Law and Dwedar was a student there. “She was a standout and leader amongst her peers,” said Anderson.
As an Arab-American and Muslim, Dwedar experienced discrimination in high school, where she was barred from participating in activities she was interested in. One of Dwedar’s guidance counselors even told her that she had no chance of getting into law school. Growing up, Dwedar also never thought she was smart enough or good enough.
“I think it’s the pressures from society and how people who look like you are portrayed and constantly being put down as a woman of color and a Muslim,” she said.
Dwedar did not know how to go about dealing with discrimination at a young age, which is why she became interested in law. She wanted to provide the guidance she lacked as a teenager to those who are discriminated against and do not know what to do or how to get help. She aims to use the law to not only make a difference in people’s lives but also to uplift communities.
“I think pursuing a career in law was kind of one of the ways that I felt like I could empower myself and to empower others,” Dwedar said. She noted during the event that she prioritizes making legal help more affordable for those in need.
Dwedar highlighted that meditation and therapy are good ways to cope and should be resources to all women, especially considering the hold Western beauty standards still have on many today. “Throughout the day, your brain is constantly on and having internal battles. Having a circle within which to kind of vent and share our shared experiences as women is really liberating to me and really comforting to know that you are not alone,” said Dwedar.
Dwedar also touched on the fear those who have been sexually harassed or discriminated against in the workplace have about coming out with their stories because they may lose their jobs or have no one believe them. Dwedar pursued a career in law to be able to provide people who feel powerless with a support system in hopes of granting them even a little bit of power and instilling force within their voices.
“A lot of the time, when women of color are discriminated against in the workplace, they think to themselves, ‘Maybe I’m crazy. Maybe I’m imagining it.’ But most of the time they really are being discriminated against,” she said. “So it’s just nice to talk to your colleagues and fellow women to know that they see it and they believe you.”
Nonetheless, Dwedar persevered and did not allow the obstacles people would throw her way to stop her from putting her best foot forward throughout her career and life.
“I want to help people in the ways that I wished someone could have helped me. I didn’t have someone to help me through a lot of things. When someone is offering you help, take them up on it,” Dwedar said.