Revolutionary Womanhood: Feminisms, Modernity, and the State in Nasser's Egypt (Stanford Studies in Middle Eastern and Islamic Societies and Cultures)

The first major historical account of gender politics during the Nasser era, __Revolutionary Womanhood__ analyzes feminism as a system of ideas and political practices, international in origin but local in iteration. Drawing connections between the secular nationalist projects that emerged in the 1950s and the gender politics of Islamism today, Laura Bier reveals how discussions about education, companionate marriage, and enlightened motherhood, as well as veiling, work, and other means of claiming public space created opportunities to reconsider the relationship between modernity, state feminism, and postcolonial state-building. Bier highlights attempts by political elites under Nasser to transform Egyptian women into national subjects. These attempts to fashion a "new" yet authentically Egyptian woman both enabled and constrained women's notions of gender, liberation, and agency. Ultimately, Bier challenges the common assumption that these emerging feminisms were somehow not culturally or religiously authentic, and details their lasting impact on Egyptian womanhood today. The first major historical account of gender politics during the Nasser era, Revolutionary Womanhood analyzes feminism as a system of ideas and political practices, international in origin but local in iteration. Drawing connections between the secular nationalist projects that emerged in the 1950s and the gender politics of Islamism today, Laura Bier reveals how discussions about education, companionate marriage, and enlightened motherhood, as well as veiling, work, and other means of claiming public space created opportunities to reconsider the relationship between modernity, state feminism, and postcolonial state-building. Bier highlights attempts by political elites under Nasser to transform Egyptian women into national subjects. These attempts to fashion a "new" yet authentically Egyptian woman both enabled and constrained women's notions of gender, liberation, and agency. Ultimately, Bier challenges the common assumption that these emerging feminisms were somehow not culturally or religiously authentic, and details their lasting impact on Egyptian womanhood today. Publisher's note The first major historical account of gender politics during the Nasser era, Revolutionary Womanhood analyzes feminism as a system of ideas and political' Practices, international in orgin but local in iteration. Drawing' connections Between the secular nationalist projects that emerged in the 1950s and the gender politics of Islamism today Laura Bier reveals how discussions about education, companianate.marriage ana enlightened motherhood, as well as veiling, work, and othermeans of claiming public space, created opportunities to reconsider the relationship between modernity; state feminism, and postcolonial state-building "The first major historical account of gender politics during the Nasser era, Revolutionary Womanhood analyzes feminism as a system of ideas and political practices, international in origin but local in iteration. Drawing connections between the secular nationalist projects that emerged in the 1950s and the gender politics of Islamism today, Laura Bier reveals how discussions about education, companionate marriage, and enlightened motherhood, as well as veiling, work, and other means of claiming public space created opportunities to reconsider the relationship between modernity, state feminism"--Provided by publisher Laura Bier highlights attempts by political elites under Nasser to transform Egyptian women into national subjects These attempts to fashion a "new" yet authentically, Egyptian woman both enabled and constrained women's notions of gender liberation,, and agency. Ultimately, Bier challenges the common assumption that these emerging, feminisms were somehow not culturally or religiously authentic,, and details their lasting impact on Egyptian womanhood today. Book jacket Egyptian women in question : the historical roots of state feminism Between home and workplace : fashioning the "working woman" Law, secularism and intimacy : debating the personal status laws The family is a factory : regulating reproduction Our sisters in struggle : state feminism and Third World imaginaries.