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Books...I[ Selections from AUC Collection] Prepared by Mona Amer
Fatima Mernissi Doing Daily Battle: Interviews with Moroccan Women HQ 1791 M3713 1989 A series of case-studies of Moroccan women (7 stories). Begins with expressing the gap between female perception and male perception and personal and political control. The book includes question and answer format of the actual interview transcripts, with a preceding paragraph describing the woman's life.
Fatima Mernissi Women's Rebellion and Islamic Memory HQ 1170 M4613 1996 Discusses the issues of sexuality, male-female relations, and women's public role in Muslim society. Focuses on Morocco as a case study. Begins with the explanation of the anxiety, tension, and misunderstanding between the sexes, and the resulting inequality and negative impact on the woman's life. Talks about women's roles in education and professional life, once again focusing on oppression and lack of freedom to develop. Raises the issue of female submission and future trends of active defiance against the slowly-shifting status quo.
Chandra Talpade Mohanty, Ann Russo, and Lourdes Torres, ed. Third World Women and the Politics of Feminism Bloomington, Indianapolis: Indiana Univ. Press, 1991 HQ 1870.9 T49 1991 A series of articles discussing women's issues in several third world countries. Main themes are feminism and liberation. Discusses female power, political awareness and activity, sexual politics, and the personal identity of the woman. Ayatullah Murtaza Mutahhari Social and Historical Change: An Islamic Perspective Berkeley: Mizan Press, 1986 HX 550 I8 M88 1986 A historical philosophical discussion about the nature of society and its various facets, and how this nature relates to possible future changes. The nature of history and scientific history in particular is explored, and criticisms of many theories are brought to light. The text focuses on change.
Minou Reeves Female Warriors of Allah: Women and the Islamic Revolution New York: E.P. Dutton HQ 1735.2 R44 1989 Orientalist-funded book. Discusses female Islamic terrorists, trying to understand why women, who are considered inferior by the Islamic religion, would fight for this same religion thereby putting their lives at risk. Highlights primarily women in Iran; discusses issues of political movements such as the Shia movement. Traces history back to ancient Persian society until present times, portraying the successive increase of female oppression, seclusion, and personal restrictions.
Suha Sabbagh, ed. (added to list) Arab Women: Between Defiance and Restraint New York: Olive Branch Press, 1996 HQ 1170 .A73 1996 Compilation of articles on women in the Arab world. The first part contains articles on feminism and leadership roles. Next sections center on the main issue of: political roles, work, education, civil war in Lebanon, Palestinian feminism and nationalism, political Islam, kinship ties, and lastly, literature. There are four articles in each section, written by well-known writers in the field.
Jane I. Smith, ed. Women in Contemporary Muslim Societies Lewisburg: Bucknell Univ. Press, 1980 HQ 1170 W57 1980 A compilation of articles concerning the role of women in religion, literature, social status, politics, economics (property), rituals, law and change, and political mobilization. Mostly case-studies of a particular country.
Judith E. Tucker Women in nineteenth-century Egypt Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1985 HQ 1793 T83 1985 Begins with discussion on women and her relationship to the land in terms of peasantry, agriculture, possession, and inheritance. Next is a description of the urban women's life as part of a crafts, working, or merchant family. For these two descriptions, the change of the woman's position and power is described in parallel to explanation of simultaneous political changes (such as colonization). The changes in the state and political attitudes, as well as private versus public lives, and how all pertain to women comes next. Repression and revolution by women are discussed, and the final chapter concerns itself with the institution of slavery.
Bo Utus, ed. Women in Islamic Societies: Social Attitudes and Historical Perspectives New York: Olive Branch Press HQ 1170 W58 1988 Case-study articles of women in Islamic societies. Includes issues such as death, patriarchy, solidarity, economic autonomy, social roles, oppression and liberation, tradition and modernization, education and socialization processes, emigration, magic, and literature.
Sherifa Zuhur Revealing Reveiling: Islamist Gender Ideology in Contemporary Egypt New York: State University of New York Press, 1992 HQ 1793 Z67 1992 Discusses Egyptian Muslim women and the resurgence of the veil. Traces historical influences on veiling, including government policies, famous figures, and religious influences. Presents a comprehensive study of self-image through the use of interview questionnaires, with results centering on issues of self-image, veiling, and femininity. Discusses sociological determinants of what constitutes a "virtuous woman", and the results of interviews with non-veiled women's view on the issue. Concludes with a short summary.
BOOKS LIST 2
GN 346 A7 1988 Arab Women in the Field: Studying Your Own Society Soraya Altorki and Camillia Fawzi El-Solh, ed. New York: Syracuse University Press, 1988 Discusses the role and nature of the Arab Muslim woman through the eyes of anthropologists studying their own culture. Contains articles by 6 anthropologists (including the two editors), each an in-depth discussion and case study of a particular group of people in the Middle East. Focuses on the woman's position, influence, and interactions, as well as social, economic, and political significance in this group. Also explores the difficulties, advantages, shortcomings, and dynamics of studying one's own culture. Very unique and interesting.
KBL I85 1996 Islamic Legal Interpretation: Muftis and Their Fatwas Muhammad Khalid Masud, Brinkley Messick, and David S. Powers, ed. Cambridge Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1996 Traces the history of fatwas and their political, social, and religious significance and impact through a collection of articles. Divided into three sections, depending on time periods: pre-modern, early modern, and modern. Most of the articles are historical case studies that discuss in depth a particular fatwa (or series of fatwas on a critical topic, or mufti), and the situation that prompted the issuing of the fatwa. Explores the social and political environment that served as a backdrop for the fatwa, and the impact and repercussions the fatwa had. Well- researched, referenced, documented, supported articles. BP 135.8 W6 M4713 1991
Women and Islam: An Historical and Theological Enquiry Fatima Mernissi (trans. Mary Jo Lakeland) Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1991 As indicated by the title, a complex and philosophical textual discourse about Muslim women. However, the book is also personal, with frequent recounts of childhood experiences, personal thoughts and emotions, and explanations of the motives which led the author to search vigorously for the truth about what it means to be a woman of the Islamic faith. With characterized recounts and explanations of the Prophet, sunna, history, and woman's role in religion, although full of facts and references. Discusses the historical and current use of Quran and sunna as powerful political weapons used for human benefits, and the misogynist tradition of Islam. The writing style serves to emphasize the author's skepticism concerning the validity of prophetic hadith and religious decrees from the ulema. Uses emotionally personal descriptions of these traditional stories, which grabs the reader's attention and sympathy towards the unjust and oppressed plight of the Muslim woman. Ends with a discussion on the hijab (veil) and its symbolism of the Muslim woman's removal from the society. Explains how the original purpose of the hijab was to protect women from street violence, especially in the threat of war, and how it instead became a source for female societal estrangement.
BP 161.2 M78 1994 The Vision of Islam Sachiko Murata and William C. Chittick New York: Paragon House,1994 Part of a series of books exploring different world religions in depth. Discusses Islam, beginning with an introduction which relates the history, development, and main tenants of the religion. Explains the role of the Prophet and Quran in the religion. The book is then divided into four sections. The first section discusses the five pillars of Islam and the sources of Islamic belief and doctrine, namely the Quran, sunna, and jurisdiction. The second part explores the meaning and basis of faith ("iman") and "tawhid" (Islamic monotheism), focusing on God, angels, creation, belief, and disbelief. The role and position of the Prophet is then discussed, with emphasis on his historical and eternal contributions to the religion, and a comparison with other religions comes next. The themes of life, death, and afterlife (namely heaven and hell) are then examined, and the section ends with a discussion and analysis of different intellectual schools and views on Islam, such as sufism. Once the reader grasps and comprehends the history, philosophy, and development of the Islamic creed and jurisprudence, he is prepared for the third section of the book, which discusses "ihsan" in worship and daily activities. Love, creativity, art, and sufism are the subsequent themes. The fourth and final part explains Islam's position and impact in history as well as current times. A thick, comprehensive, straight-forward text. Contains a great deal of discussion, reflection, and posing of questions, but in an understandable manner. Is full of Quranic quotes and narratives of Prophetic hadith. Contains a glossary at the end.
BP 42 R33 1982 Islam and Modernity: Transformation of an Intellectual Tradition Fazlur Rahman Chicago: Chicago University Press, 1982 The author's university research project on Islam. Traces the heritage and history of the Quran and Prophet, emphasizing the intellectual nature of the religion. Then goes on to explore the classical Islamic modernism, and contemporary modernism, and ends with a chapter which concerns views of the future. Focuses on the India-Pakistan region. Very flowing, gives a thorough background before discussing a current situation.
HQ 1206 R65 1974 Woman, Culture, and Society Michelle Zimbalist Rosaldo and Louise Lamphere, ed. California: Stanford Univ. Press, 1974 A collection of articles about women, including topics of culture, status role, family, male-female conflict, group interaction, matriarchy, politics, economics, and production. Mostly essays, case studies, and exploration of theories (such as Engels). The articles do not center on any particular region or peoples; the case studies for example include China, Indonesia, U.S., and Guatamala. With an introduction by the editor about theoretical frameworks and paradigms about women, and why the articles were chosen to explain or explore the perspectives. Anthropological. HQ 1170 W57 1980 Women in Contemporary Muslim Societies Jane I. Smith, ed. Lewisburg: Bucknell University Press, 1980 A small collection of 8 articles concerning the Muslim woman; the authors are from the West. Includes research and case studies of women (e.g. Morocco, India, and Iran). Also, there are general articles about the Islamic women which center around themes of religion, tradition and role, social position, personal property, and political activity. From an anthropological perspective; the articles are well-written. Begins with an introduction about women in Islam.
DT 195 S29 1985 A Short History of Modern Egypt Afaf Lutfi Al-Sayyid Marsot Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1985 Traces the political history of Egypt from the Arab conquest of Egypt to contemporary times. The main theme is the alienation of the Egyptian nationals from their rulers all throughout the decades. Describes the foreign rulers and colonizers, and their policies, focusing on the acquisition and maintenance of power as well as the schism between the government and the civilians. Talks about the onset of a native Egyptian ruling group after nationalization and sovereignty, and how despite this change the alienation still persists. Hypothesizes that the main reason for the continuation of government-civilian lack of communication and understanding is that the newly established governments are insecure, and accordingly they apply an authoritarian rule rather than a representative one. Thus, the people are still apart from and unheard by the government. A history book which explains and defends a theory; clear and concise.
DS 80.5 C6x 1987 Women Write War: The Centring of the Beirut Decentrists Miriam Cooke Oxford: Centre for Lebanese Studies, 1987 Sixth in a succession of pamphlets which are part of the "Papers on Lebanon" series published by the Centre for Lebanese Studies. Discusses the writings of the Decentrists, and how the war environment influenced the emergence and development of this literary genre. Discusses the evolution of the country's political situation, and how this is reflected in the Lebanese woman's consciousness, personal values, and subsequently, their writings. Contains quotes from various texts of this genre. Short pamphlet, concise; written in a dramatic way.. a piece of literature in and of itself.
HQ 1170 S49x 1988 Both Right and Left Handed: Arab Women Talk About Their Lives Bouthaina Shaaban London: The Women's Press, 1988 A text chock-full of colorful stories and interviews with Arab women from Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and Algeria. Through the use of case-study interviews, the author attempts to portray the inner feelings, struggles, wishes and dreams of the women, and how they react to the society around them. The book serves to emphasize the strong and defiant nature of the Arab woman, and how she battles to survive the hardships and struggles around her. Contains historical, political, and other information of importance as a background or setting for the text. Easy to read, especially since most of the text consists of transcriptions of the original interviews.
HQ 1236.5 S73 H35 1996 Gender Politics in Sudan: Islamism, Socialism and the State Sondra Hale Colorado: Westview Press, 1996 An in-depth look at gender politics in Sudan, based on the author's own research in Sudan and some surrounding country regions. Begins the text with a full explanation of the research methods and collection of information involved in the study, as well as the theme. Discusses previous theories and works and publications on the issue. The second section deals with the political, economic, religious, and social history of Sudan, and how the country has evolved and developed with respect to these aspects. An overview of the contemporary Sudanese woman comes next, and it includes issues from self-image and social situations to political involvement. The third section consists of case studies: the first being the Sudanese Communist Part and Women's Union; the second being Islamism and National Islamic Front activities. The role and position of women within these two groups is highlighted. The final chapter discusses the development in culture and accompanying conflicts and conflict resolution, along with expectations for the future. Overflowing with information and facts, but has a personal touch.
BP 163 I775 1987 The Islamic Impulse Barbara Freyer Stowasser London: Croom Helm, 1987 A thick collection of essays and case studies concerning Islam and politics. An international collection of authors. Some articles discuss the religious environment under specific political regimes, others trace the development of religious movements, and still others compare and contrast Islam to other ideologies. A mixture of political and sociological writings, all focusing on the Islamic movement and "fundamentalism" in Muslim countries.
BP 161.2 W27 1990 The Moslem Mind Charis Waddy London: Grosvenor, 1990 A comprehensive introductory book on the Islamic religion, with dedication to the Azhar University. The first part discusses the five pillars of Islam, and concentrates on the unique and distinguished Quran as well as the significance and rituals of hajj. The second part talks about the principles of community life, including individual, family, and societal relationships and mannerisms. The third section is more philosophical, discussing issues of conflict and conflict resolution between men, countries, and even within the inner self- from an Islamic point of view. The fourth section concerns itself with education and necessity of knowledge, and the fifth part discusses sufism. The sixth and final section discusses future trends in Islam, both at the individual and national levels. A flowing, spiritual text which focuses both on inner peace as well as political situations. Includes emphasis on human rights in Islam.
JOURNAL ARTICLES Lisa Taraki Jordanian Islamists and the agenda for women: Between discourse and practice Middle Eastern Studies v 32 p. 140-58 January 1996
Discusses the resurgent Islamic movement in Jordan and the accompanying attempt to set an agenda for women's issues. Talks about recent political changes in general, then focuses on the shortcomings of the Ikhwan in realizing and dealing with the change in women's position and social visibility in recent years. Explores the controversies and issues that arise due to this shortcoming.
Nayereh Tohidi Soviet in public, Azeri in private: Gender, Islam, and nationality in Soviet and post-Soviet Azerbaijan Women's Studies International Forum v 19 p 111-23 January/April '96 Talks about Muslim women in newly independent Azerbaijan. Discusses the relatively high level of freedom acquired by the women in contrast with traditional and national norms. Talks about women in public life, duality of status, the relationship between nationality and religion, and intermarriage. The new search for identity is explored.
Lisa Taraki Islam is the solution: Jordanian Islamists and the dilemma of the 'modern woman' The British Journal of Sociology v 46 p 643-61 December '95 Discusses the issue of women's role in the Arab world ; especially after the downfall of colonialism and the rise of Islamic movements in which the woman is a major issue. Focuses primarily on the Jordanian woman, her role in society after colonialism, and the conflicts and changes with respect to gender and class relations. Speaks about the Ikhwan, and patterns of change with respect to education and work.
Lynda P. Malik Social and cultural determinants of the gender gap in higher education in the Islamic world Journal of Asian and African Studies v 30 p 181-93 December '95 A research paper analyzing the association of gender stratification in higher education with a country's political (whether it had a revolution within the past century) and religious (religious-secular government orientation) condition, with quantifiable results presented. The countries studied are Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey, all three identified as "Muslim" countries with radically different educational, political, and religious situations. Turkey, for example, was found to have little gender stratification. The other two had high stratification, which may be the result of religious sanctions.
J. Lorand Matory Rival empires: Islam and the religions of spirit possession among the Oyo-Yoruba American Ethnologist v 21 p 495-515 August '94 Mentions that previous explanations of spirit possession, a predominantly female phenomenon, say that it is a result of the woman's strategy to take privileges denied to them from society, and to comment indirectly on grievances in political order. This author servers to differ with this theory, using a majority Muslim group (Oyo-Yoruba) in Nigeria as an example. Rather than an expression of grievance towards male dominance, it is a ritual that expresses the interests of the extended rural-based and centrally important communities. Discusses the history and influence of Islam in full. Key themes: religion, mysticism, aristocracy.
END OF BATCH1 OF JOURNAL ARTICLES
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