The Muslim Diaspora: Gender, Culture and Identity (Routledge Islamic Studies)

Muslim Diaspora identifies those aspects of migratory experience that shatter or reinforce a group's attachment to its homeland and affect its readiness to adapt to a new country. The contributors to this collection examine many dimensions of life in the Diaspora and demonstrate that identity is always constructed in relation to others. They show how religious identity in diaspora is mediated by many other factors such as: Gender Class Ethnic origin National status A central aim is to understand Diaspora as an agent of social and cultural change, particularly in its transformative impact on women. Throughout, the book advances a more nuanced understanding of the notions of ethnicity, difference and rights. It makes an important contribution to understanding the complex processes of formation and adoption of transnational identities and the challenging contradictions of a world that is being rapidly globalized in economic and political terms, and yet is increasingly localized and differentiated, ethically and culturally. Muslim Diaspora includes contributions from outstanding scholars and is an invaluable text for students in sociology, anthropology, geography, cultural studies, Islamic studies, women's studies as well as the general reader. Diaspora : History Of An Idea / Denise Helly -- Islam In Diaspora And Challenges To Multiculturalism / Saeed Rahnema -- Exilic Readings Of The Old Testament, The New Testament And The Koran / Reza Baraheni -- Diaspora, Ethnicity And Problems Of Identity / Mark J. Goodman -- Islam And Consecrated Tortures / Ezat Mossallanejad -- Divided Communities Of Memory : Diasporas Come Home / Mary Ann Tétreault -- 'our' Reflections In 'their' Mirror : Cultural Politics And The Representation Of The Iranian Diaspora In The Islamic Republic / Hammed Shahidian -- Gender, Nation And Diaspora : Kurdish Women In Feminist Transnational Struggles / Shahrzad Mojab -- Discourses Of Islam/secularism And Identity-building Processes Among Turkish University Youth / Aylin Akpinar -- The Hijab Controversies In Western Public Schools : Contrasting Conceptions Of Ethnicity And Of Ethnic Relations / Marie Mcandrew -- Islamophobia And Women Of Pakistani Descent In Bradford : The Crisis Of Ascribed And Adopted Identities / Haleh Afshar, Robert Aitken And Myfanwy Franks -- Diasporic Narratives On Virginity / Fataneh Farahani -- Iranian-american Elderly In California's Santa Clara Valley : Crafting Selves And Composing Lives / Mary Hegland -- Like Parvin, Like Najiba, Like Heba, We Are All Different : Reflections On Voices Of Women In Diaspora / Afsaneh Hojabri. Edited By Haideh Moghissi. Based On A Series Of Panel Presentations At An International Conference In May 2004 At York University In Toronto. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This book identifies those aspects of migratory experience that shatter or reinforce a group's attachment to its homeland and affect its readiness to adapt to a new country. The contributors of this collection examine many dimensions of life in the Diaspora and demonstrate that identity is always constructed in relation to others. They show how religious identity in Diaspora is mediated by many other factors such as gender, class, ethnic origin, and national status. A central aim is to understand Diaspora as an agent of social and cultural cahnge, particularly in its transformative impact on women In this book, top researchers from each of the 3 main areas of study in consciousness introduce their angle and lead the student through the basic debates and research to date, ending with suggestions for further reading This book charts the experiences of the Islamic diaspora around the world. It incorporates a broad range of case studies and includes issues such as identity, religious background and gender.