Gender and Self in Islam (Routledge Advances in Middle East and Islamic Studies)

Using philosophical analysis, this book explores the construction of gender in Muslim societies and its implication to the constitution of the self. The root of the existing discourse of the hierarchical principle is examined as is the extent to which the process of human reproduction, especially the role of women in conception, contributes to an anti-egalitarian theory of gender. The author analyzes the theological, cultural and political apparatus of the masculine conception of femininity and seeks to unfold the process of the alienation of the self from a woman’s sense of individuality, agency, and autonomy. Incorporating traditional Islamic sources, Western feminist texts and Christian texts, Gender and Self in Islam seeks to restructure the contradictory claims of gender hierarchy and egalitarianism and elaborate an alternative set of interpretations that is friendly and inclusive of women. Gender And Self In Islam Examines The Theological, Cultural, And Social Roots Of Hierarchical Gender System In The Muslim Communities And Its Impact On The Constitution Of The Self. It Traces The Historical And Contemporary Patterns Of Women's Lives, Including Their Oppressions And Their Resistance To What Is Accepted As The Philosophical And Islamic Truth Of Being Men And Women.--book Jacket. Gender Thinking And The System It Produces -- The Roots Of The Hierarchical And Egalitarian Gender Systems -- Gender Hierarchy And Its Quranic Foundation -- The Quranic View Of Gender Egalitarianism -- The Politics Of Sexual Difference And Its Impact On Gender System -- Gender And Power Difference In The Family -- The Creation Theories As The Bases For Ontological Self And Inclusive Humanity -- The Creation Of Adam And The Making Of Humanity -- The Creation Of Adam Vis-a-vis Humans (khalifah , Bashar And Al-insan) -- The Creation Of Eve Or H'awwa -- The Making Of Humanity -- Equality In Human Origin -- Ontology And Human Equality -- The Creation Of Humans Out Of One Self (nafs Wahidah) -- The Ontological View Of The Self The Transmission Of Generative Self And Women's Contribution To Conception -- Female Roles In Conception: An Islamic Philosophical View And Its Greek Heritage -- The Politics Of Gender And Reproduction In The Post-ibn Sinan Period -- The Stages Of Fetal Development: A Quranic View -- The Embodiment Of Masculinity And Femininity: The Making Of Material Self -- The Narrative Of The Self And The Making Of Material Self -- The Formativity Of Material Self -- Biological And Cultural Bodies -- Veiling Women's Bodies -- Hijab: Spatial Dimension (seclusion) -- Jilbab And Khimar: Personal Covering -- Circumcision And Virginity: Control Over Sexuality -- The Performance Of The Self: Engendering Dependency And Pleasures -- The Construction Of The Ethics And Psychology Of The Self -- The Psychological Dimension Of The Self (nafs) -- The Ethical Feature Of The Self -- Extensional And Reciprocal Dependency -- Extensional Dependency And The Making Of The Self -- Reciprocal Dependency And The Production Of The Self -- The Embodied Self, The Truth Of Sex And Pleasures Etin Anwar. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [149]-188) And Index. Book Cover 1 Half Title 2 Title 4 Copyright 5 Dedications 6 Contents 8 Acknowledgments 10 Note 12 Introduction 14 1. Gender thinking and the system it produces 29 2. The creation theories as the bases for ontological self and inclusive humanity 59 3. The transmission of generative self and women's contribution to conception 85 4. The embodiment of masculinity and femininity: The making of material self 107 5. The performance of the self: Engendering dependency and pleasures 130 Conclusion 153 Glossary 160 Notes 162 Bibliography 190 Index 202 "Gender and Self in Islam examines the theological, cultural, and social roots of hierarchical gender system in the Muslim communities and its impact on the constitution of the self. It traces the historical and contemporary patterns of women's lives, including their oppressions and their resistance to what is accepted as the philosophical and Islamic truth of being men and women."--Résumé de l'éditeur