Shattering Stereotypes

Wendy Chang shatters the stereotype of a meek Muslim woman the way a karate chop splits a piece of wood.

The 35-year-old nurse was raised Catholic by her parents, who emigrated from Beijing, but converted to Islam after she met her husband, whose father moved to the United States from Jordan.

Today, the Redwood City native, wears a traditional Islamic head scarf, but can accessorize with a second-degree black belt in martial arts, which she's studied since a co-worker stalked her 12 years ago.

"It was a very threatening and scary experience," she said. "I decided I needed to take control of my life again."

Chang met he husband during self-defense classes in Fremont and now teaches occasional empowerment sessions for Muslim women in Hayward.

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