Muslim Women in Austria and Germany Doing and Undoing Gender : Making Gender Differences and Hierarchies Relevant or Irrelevant

Constanze Volkmann develops an innovative new gender theory labeled doing and undoing gender. Based on empirical findings she examines the highly debated intersection of gender and Islam. The analysis of interviews with various Muslim women unravels the many different ways in which gender is done and undone. Especially with regard to potential gender hierarchies, the results reveal that the category 'gender' is irrelevant to many Muslim women and is even used as a means to foster their status and power as women. This book makes a substantial contribution to a differentiated social debate at eye level with Muslim women. Contents • Muslim Population in Austria and Germany: Its Origins, Current Contexts and Definitional Challenges • Integrating Previous Theoretical Perspectives: A Comprehensive Approach to Gender • Different Types of Doing and Undoing Gender with Regard to Income-Generating Work • Different Types of Doing and Undoing Gender with Regard to Motherhood Target Groups • Lecturers and students of sociology, psychology, gender studies, education and social anthropology • Actors from the fields of journalism, politics (ministries, offices, police), in hospitals, schools, counseling centers The Author Dr. Constanze Volkmann is assistant professor at the Competence Center for Empirical Research Methods at the Vienna University of Economics and Business, Austria. Her areas of expertise include qualitative research methods as well as gender theory and research.-- Provided by publisher Front Matter ....Pages I-XIII Introduction (Constanze Volkmann)....Pages 1-5 Muslim population in Austria and Germany: Its origins, current contexts and definitional challenges (Constanze Volkmann)....Pages 7-27 Theoretical approaches to gender (Constanze Volkmann)....Pages 29-80 Integrating the theoretical perspectives: A comprehensive approach to gender (Constanze Volkmann)....Pages 81-97 Review of the literature on the role of gender among Muslim women in ‘Western’ societies (Constanze Volkmann)....Pages 99-112 Research question and methodological approach: their development throughout the research process (Constanze Volkmann)....Pages 113-142 How Muslim women in Austria and Germany construct and practice gender (Constanze Volkmann)....Pages 143-232 Discussion (Constanze Volkmann)....Pages 233-254 Back Matter ....Pages 255-318