Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Sister-themed reality features snide behavior, drinking.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Secrets & Sisterhood: The Sozahdahs
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
SECRETS & SISTERHOOD: THE SOZAHDAHS is an unscripted series featuring 10 Afghani American sisters living in Los Angeles, California. Actress and model Shakur is the fifth of the sisters in the Sozahdah family, and considers herself the leader of her younger sisters, Muzlefa, Jamila, Siddiqa, Nooreya, and Hamida. Calling themselves the "wolf pack," they balance their Afghani culture and their commitment to Islam with their desire to be true to themselves as modern Muslim American women. But older sisters Shaista, Khaija, Halimah, and Rabya, who were born in Afghanistan and are considered the conservative "elders," often take issue with their younger sisters' decisions. They all love each other dearly, but as each woman negotiates her individual values, beliefs, and behaviors, the bonds among them are at risk of coming apart.
Is It Any Good?
The voyueristic unscripted series tackles meaningful themes, but they're contextualized within, and overshadowed by, endless gossip and antagonistic behavior. Secrets & Sisterhood: The Sozahdahs attempts to show how a close-knit group of sisters negotiates modern Los Angeles and the traditional values associated with Afghani culture and Islamic religious practices. The women are quick to note how they embrace their culture and their faith, but the younger set makes a point of highlighting how hard it is to balance this with their desire to date freely, drink, and enjoy sexual freedom in ways that are true to themselves.
Meanwhile, the secrets kept by some members of the "wolf pack," which they claim to keep out of fear of being judged, bringing shame to the family, or being disowned by their mother, feel contrived and simplistic. It doesn't help that they're sharing these "secrets" publicly on television. Overall, Secrets & Sisterhood: The Sozahdahs has an interesting backstory and stays away from stereotypes, but ultimately offers little more than the expected reality drama these types of unscripted TV shows are known for.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the experiences of refugee families in the United States. What are these families seeking refuge from? What challenges do they face once they're here?
Does Secrets & Sisterhood effectively demonstrate how the Sozahdah sisters are embracing their Afghani culture and western culture? Or are they subtly leaning into stereotypes to tell their story?
TV Details
- Premiere date : June 7, 2023
- Cast : Shakur Sozahdah , Jamila Sozahdah , Rabya Sozahdah
- Network : Hulu
- Genre : Reality TV
- TV rating :
- Last updated : July 8, 2023
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