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Winner of the 2013 Grawemeyer Award in Religion, given jointly by the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and the University of Louisville--Grawemeyer Award in Religion"Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and the University of Louisville" (12/06/2012)"
About the Author
Leila Ahmed was the first professor of Women's Studies in Religion at Harvard University and is now the Victor S. Thomas Professor of Divinity at the university's Divinity School. She is the author of Women and Gender in Islam and A Border Passage: From Cairo to America - A Woman's Journey.
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Ahmed is always curious and calm as she explores the explosive subject of women in Islam. She wants to know what Muslim women think, their reasons for doing things, and how they are shaping their tradition. The investigation takes her through the decades of her own lifetime, first in Egypt and then in the USA. She tracks the trend towards veiling and the varied motives behind it, be they self-protection from aggressive men in the streets of Cairo, to the influence of Saudi-funded teachers, to self-assertion in the face of Western prejudice. And to her own surprise, Ahmed finds encouraging developments among North American Muslim women. In standing up for their rights as a minority, many of these women have become outspoken defenders of freedom and equality. Many are claiming an equal role with men in leading their communities and interpreting their tradition. I found the book fascinating and occasionally inspiring.
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The focus of this book is on modern Egypt and then America. That makes it very timely. In some ways the modern history of Egypt overwhelms the focus on the veil, but that is appropriate. The veil should not be the primary focus, since it is a sign and representation of a larger political context. that is the point. In the latter part of the book the focus shifts to America. Here again the veil is put in the context of a much larger development of Muslim society in America - if one can speak of "a" Muslim society. My one concern with this book is that she refers to the leadership of the largest Muslim organizations in America, generically, as Muslim Brotherhood. I see the point that she is making. The form of Islam that has become normative in the Islamic Society of North America has an intentional piety that might be associated with the Muslim brotherhood in Egypt. I question how accurate it is to carry that description over to America, as if somehow various American Muslim organizations are extensions of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. They are not, even if some of the practices look similar. This book is rigorous in its research but at the same time personal and sensitive.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 starsNot what I expected, however very interesting8 Mar. 2013
By
Nachi
- Published on Amazon.com
Format: Hardcover
Verified Purchase
I thought this book was going to concentrate more on the hijab subject, but what it mainly talks about is the history of Egypt's colonization and the Muslim brotherhood. I feel that it barely talks about the hijab revolution as it says. I am happy to be able to understand more about Egypts developement, but don't think this book has the correct name.
This book is an incredibly well written history and well backed argument about the resurgence of the veil now and the reasons for the veil in the past and today. I can honestly say that Leila Ahmed has changed my perspective about veiling and the Muslim religion's connection to people. She gives reams upon reams of evidence and facts about the veil and the women who do or do not wear it. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to widen their perspective or to simply learn more about muslim women in the Middle East and America.
5.0 out of 5 starsA Woman's perspective on the veil's resurgance20 Mar. 2013
By
Mary Sheridan Janda
- Published on Amazon.com
Format: Hardcover
Verified Purchase
I have not quite finished this book but I am learning so much. Dr. Ahmed does an incredible job of explaining the history of the veil in certain countries and helps Westerners such as myself have a greater understanding of the background of the Islamists. I recommend this to everyone in the United States to read this for better understanding of the complexities of Islam today.
This is an illuminating, well researched and written book that will ever be a favourite of mine.
The fact that the resurgence of the veil is partly driven by Muslim women wanting to make a statement of a proud identity is not a surprise to me. It is also not a surprise that it is for some women in the Muslim world, influenced by Muslim men and their particular strain of belief and politics. Muslim women are no different to us in this way they are influenced by their men. No-one can deny that we western women dress to please our men, but we focus on getting their attention and many of us in the wrong way. It is fascinating though that the motivations are so opposed.
The Hijab appears extreme to us and it is in comparison. Although since I have been learning and opening my mind, the more beautiful I find it. Just for the record though, I am one who does not approve of our young women presenting themselves in society like Las Vegas Hookers from a very young age, but that's just me.
The history of the resurgence of the veil is an efficient reflection of recent Middle Eastern history, coupled with Muslim women's now growing rejection of many elements of the western lifestyle. In my opinion this is very understandable given that western dress was an influence virtually forced upon their societies through unwanted colonisation, agressive annexing and brutal warfare. This was all the time fuelled by a stream of callous greed and strategic alliances forged for the protection of western interests with no regard for the safety, rights or sensitivities of the local people.
Whilst the book is completely non-political in its intent, once you read and reflect upon what has happened in the last century alone, one cannot help sympathise with the innocent mainstream of people in the Middle East and what they have endured at the hands of the rest of the world and that it has built understandable mistrust and resentment.
The Middle East have rarely had any respite from outside power and influence and when they have they have shown, in my opinion, that they simply want what the rest of us do, peace, freedom and the right to worship as they wish.
This book highlights the resurence of one of the most arresting and confronting visible identities of Islam as a "ladylike" show of pride in their identity and a stand for their right to firstly please their God and then themselves.
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