Muslim Women in America : The Challenge of Islamic Identity Today

The treatment and role of women are among the most discussed and controversial aspects of Islam. The rights of Muslim women have become part of the Western political agenda, often perpetuating a stereotype of universal oppression. Muslim women living in America continue to be marginalized and misunderstood since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Yet their contributions are changing the face of Islam as it is seen both within Muslim communities in the West and by non-Muslims. In their public and private lives, Muslim women are actively negotiating what it means to be a woman and a Muslim in an American context. Yvonne Yazbeck Haddad, Jane I. Smith, and Kathleen M. Moore offer a much-needed survey of the situation of Muslim American women, focusing on how Muslim views about and experiences of gender are changing in the Western diaspora. Centering on Muslims in America, the book investigates Muslim attempts to form a new "American" Islam. Such specific issues as dress, marriage, childrearing, conversion, and workplace discrimination are addressed. The authors also look at the ways in which American Muslim women have tried to create new paradigms of Islamic womanhood and are reinterpreting the traditions apart from the males who control the mosque institutions. A final chapter asks whether 9/11 will prove to have been a watershed moment for Muslim women in America. This groundbreaking work presents the diversity of Muslim American women and demonstrates the complexity of the issues. Impeccably researched and accessible, it broadens our understanding of Islam in the West and encourages further exploration into how Muslim women are shaping the future of American Islam. The treatment and role of women are among the most discussed and controversial aspects of Islam. The rights of Muslim women have become part of the Western political agenda, often perpetuating a stereotype of universal oppression. Muslim women living in America continue to be marginalized and misunderstood since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Yet their contributions are changing the face of Islam as it is seen both within Muslim communities in the West and by non-Muslims. In their public and private lives, Muslim women are actively negotiating what it means to be a woman and a Muslim in an American context. The authors offer a survey of the situation of Muslim American women, focusing on how Muslim views about and experiences of gender are changing in the Western diaspora. Centering on Muslims in America, the book investigates Muslim attempts to form a new "American" Islam. Such specific issues as dress, marriage, childrearing, conversion, and workplace discrimination are addressed. The authors also look at the ways in which American Muslim women have tried to create new paradigms of Islamic womanhood and are reinterpreting the traditions apart from the males who control the mosque institutions. A final chapter asks whether 9/11 will prove to have been a watershed moment for Muslim women in America [In this book, the authors] offer a much-needed survey of the situation of Muslim American women, focusing on how Muslim American women views about and experiences of gender are changing in the Western disapora. Centering on Muslims in America, the book investigates Muslim attempts to form a new "American" Islam. Such specific issues as dress, marriage, childrearing, conversion, and workplace discrimination are addressed. The authors also look at the ways in which American Muslim women have tried to create new paradigms of Islamic womanhood and are reinterpreting the traditions apart from the males who control the mosque institutions. A final chapter asks whether 9/11 will prove to have been a watershed moment for Muslim women in America.-Dust jacket Contents 10 1. Setting the Scene 14 2. Persistent Stereotypes 32 3. Embracing Islam 52 4. Practices of the Faith 72 5. Gender and Family 92 6. Muslim Women in the Crucible 112 7. Claiming Public Space 132 8. Competing Discourses 154 Glossary 176 A 176 B 176 D 176 E 176 F 176 H 176 I 177 J 177 K 177 M 177 N 177 P 177 Q 177 S 177 T 177 U 177 Z 177 Sources 178 Index 196 A 196 B 196 C 196 D 197 E 197 F 197 G 198 H 198 I 198 J 198 K 199 L 199 M 199 N 199 O 200 P 200 Q 200 R 200 S 200 T 201 U 201 V 201 W 201 Y 201 Z 201 0195177835,9780195177831 Oxford University Press, USA Contents......Page 10 1. Setting the Scene......Page 14 2. Persistent Stereotypes......Page 32 3. Embracing Islam......Page 52 4. Practices of the Faith......Page 72 5. Gender and Family......Page 92 6. Muslim Women in the Crucible......Page 112 7. Claiming Public Space......Page 132 8. Competing Discourses......Page 154 H......Page 176 Z......Page 177 Sources......Page 178 C......Page 196 F......Page 197 J......Page 198 N......Page 199 S......Page 200 Z......Page 201 Setting the scene Persistent stereotypes Embracing Islam Practices of the faith Gender and the family Muslim women in the crucible Claiming public space Competing discourses Glossary.