Muslim Women in Britain: De-mystifying the Muslimah

225 Pages·2012·16.614 MB·English

by  Sariya Contractor

Muslim Women in Britain
Perceptions of Muslim women in Western society have been shaped by his-
torical and sociological conditions such as colonialism, patriarchy and
Orientalism.InMuslimWomeninBritain,SariyaContractorseekstoreinstate
theMuslimahasastorytellerwhotellsherownstory.
An exploration of the lives of British Muslim women, this book examines
issues of femininity, Britishness, inter-communal relations and social cohe-
sion. Presenting the reader with incisive narratives of Muslim women on
familiar topics such as the hijab, Muslim women in the media and feminist
debate, particularly in a Western context, SariyaContractor makes avaluable
contribution to the existing literature on Islamic studies, social anthropology,
feminist philosophy and social cohesion.
Presenting a complex and nuanced retelling of Muslim women’s realities as
explored through their own voices, stories and experiences, this book will be
ofinterestto scholars and students ofIslamicstudies,Women’sstudies,Social
AnthropologyandSociologyseekingafreshperspectiveonMuslimwomenin
Britain.
Sariya Contractor is a convert to Islam and a sociologist at the University of
Derby, specialising in the sociologyof religion.
Routledge Islamic Studies Series
This broad ranging series includes books on Islamic issues from all parts of
the globe and is not simply confined to the Middle East.
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The New Politics of Islam
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The Small Players of the Great Game
The Settlement of Iran’s Eastern Borderlands and the Creation of
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Pirouz Mojtahed-Zadeh
Interest in Islamic Economics
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Muslim Diaspora
Gender, Culture and Identity
Edited by Haideh Moghissi
Human Conscience and Muslim-Christian Relations
Modern Egyptian Thinkers on al- d.am-ır
Oddbjørn Leirvik
Islam in Nordic and Baltic Countries
Göran Larsson
Islam and Disability
Perspectives in Theology and Jurisprudence
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Producing Islamic Knowledge
Transmission and Dissemination in Western Europe
Edited by Martin van Bruinessen and Stefano Allievi
Political Liberalism in Muslim Societies
Fevzi Bilgin
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S. Nazim Ali
Muslim Women Online
Faith and Identity in Virtual Space
Anna Piela
Early Orientalism
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Muslim Women in Britain
De-mystifying the Muslimah
Sariya Contractor

Muslim Women in Britain
De-mystifying the Muslimah
Sariya Contractor
Firstpublished2012
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Ayesha’s voice
On herself: I am a student, I have a lot to experience in life and I am still
young. So I have a lot to achieve and I have great ambitions and dreams.
InshaAllah [if God wills] I can fulfil them.
On women’s rights: I think they [rights] are very important. You lose your
personality, your identity if you don’t have rights. Identity is very important in
this world.
On patriarchy: I think sometimes men … try to take these [women’s] rights to
make it easier for them. You know, if women don’t have expectations, it
becomes easier for them.
On women fighting for their rights: I want to convey to Muslim sisters what-
ever age they may be, whatever ethnicity, that Islam is not oppressing us, it
gives us the opportunity to have our voice heard and to speak our mind. I have
always been fighting for sisters, I have always had that thing, and I question
sometimes, ‘Whydomen getopportunitiesandwomen don’t?’Maybethere isa
test inthis andmaybe there isanother test that Allah hasgiven us– tofightfor
our rights maybe.
On dialogue: It is good if we get to talk to each other, maybe then we will see
whywebehaveinaparticularmanner.Maybeitwillbreakthebarrierandhelp
build bridges [ … ] we are all human and if we communicate then there is a
sense of security. [ … ] Even within Muslims we have gaps between different
ethnicities. We need to fill these gaps and realise that we go through the same
things in life. Any difficulties that we have, we should talk to each other. You
know, a problem shared is a problem halved.
On the media: In conclusion, from my point of view and from my experience, I
feel that women with the hijab, the jilbab and even the niqab [various forms of
covering used by Muslim women], I don’t think that they are oppressed. I
really want to get this point across that we are not oppressed or anything. It
comes from our desires and belief that we want to do this for the sake of Allah.
I hope to see this message portrayed in the media, maybe my speech will be
there. I really hope that they can clear their minds that we are not oppressed.
Ayesha1 insisted she would participate in my work although she was extre-
mely ill, because she felt it was important that she make her voice heard, if
onlytoclarifymisconceptionsaboutIslam.Shediedofcanceron18November
2009.Shewas20.ThisbookisdedicatedtoAyesha.
May you be eternally blessed Ayesha, may your voice continue to be heard.
Ameen
Contents
List of figures xi
Foreword by Dr Alison Scott-Baumann xii
Acknowledgments xiv
Note on terms, translations and transliterations xvi
Introducing Muslim women’s voices 1
PARTI
Giving voice 13
1 The historicity of modern stereotypes 15
2 Working with Muslims (women): methodological
possibilities 37
PARTII
Taking voice 55
3 Islam versus Muslim culture: the Muslim woman’s voice 57
4 ‘Ain’t I awoman?’: ‘constructing’ Muslim women 69
5 Women’s narratives of the hijab 81
6 Islamic feminisms 94
7 Metaphors, Muslim women and ‘the media’ 107
PARTIII
Hearing voice 119
8 Challenging ‘Muslim women’stereotypes: ‘She’s just like my
friend Bess’ 121
9 Feminine universality? Muslim sisters in the sisterhood 133