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Muslim Women in Contemporary North America: Controversies, Clichés, and Conversations PDF

232 Pages·2022·14.513 MB·English
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Muslim Women in Contemporary North America Muslim Women in Contemporary North America is a provocative study of how strongly held and divergent opinions, values, and beliefs, as well as miscon- ceptions, overgeneralizations, and political agendas pertaining to Muslim women in the region, enter the public frame of reference. Interrogating contested topics in a series of case studies from both Canada and the United States, this book probes below the surface in pursuit of deeper understanding and more productive dialogue. Chapters analyze controversies over “clash” literature, dissident reformists, female religious leadership, veils, and the nature of emancipation in a compelling examination of the ways in which “Muslim,” “American,” and “Canadian” identities and values are being defined, differentiated, and projected. By pinpointing both sources of dissonance and unexpected patterns of resonance among complex, compos- ite, and at times overlapping identity constellations, this book uncovers the impact of controversies on broader cultural negotiations in the United States and Canada. Transforming controversy and cliché into genuine conversation, Muslim Women in Contemporary North America is an invaluable resource for scholars and students in the fields of Islamic and Muslim Studies, Gender Studies, International Relations, Political Science, and Sociology. Meena Sharify-Funk is Associate Professor of Religion and Culture at Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada. Muslim Women in Contemporary North America Controversies, Clichés, and Conversations Meena Sharify-Funk Designed cover image: HamidEbrahimi / Getty Images First published 2023 by Routledge 4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN and by Routledge 605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business © 2023 Meena Sharify-Funk The right of Meena Sharify-Funk to be identified as author of this work has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe. British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Sharify-Funk, Meena, author. Title: Muslim women in contemporary North America : controversies, clichés, and conversations / Meena Sharify-Funk. Description: 1. | New York City : Routledge, 2022. | Includes bibliographical references and index. Identifiers: LCCN 2022028489 | ISBN 9780367356927 (hardback) | ISBN 9780367356897 (paperback) | ISBN 9780429341151 (ebook) Subjects: LCSH: Muslim women--North America--Social conditions--21st century. | Muslim women--United States--Social conditions--21st century. | Muslim women--Canada--Social conditions--21st century. Classification: LCC HQ1170 .S4625 2022 | DDC 305.48/697097--dc23/eng/20220705 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022028489 ISBN: 978-0-367-35692-7 (hbk) ISBN: 978-0-367-35689-7 (pbk) ISBN: 978-0-429-34115-1 (ebk) DOI: 10.4324/9780429341151 Typeset in Bembo by KnowledgeWorks Global Ltd. To my parents, Nancy Olga Sharify and Majdeddin Sharify-Hosseini, who taught me that differences expand our horizons, and that love knows no boundaries. I am eternally grateful to both of you. “Between hearts there is no separation…” Contents Acknowledgments viii Introduction 1 1 Mapping the Terrain of Muslim Women in 21st Century North America 9 2 Living the Dialogical: Negotiating Identity and Meaning 38 3 Pervasive Anxiety about Islam and Muslims: “Clash Literature” in North America 72 4 Dissidence, Dissonance, and the Politics of Muslim Women’s Emancipation 100 5 Muslim Women Prayer Leadership and Gendered Sacred Space 144 6 Veil Controversies: The Dynamics of Inclusion and Exclusion 177 Conclusion: The Muslim Woman 207 Index 219 Acknowledgments Resilient is a wonderful word to describe the many women in my life who have inspired me to remember the goodness and beauty as well as wonder that are present within this precious world, even in times of difficulty. In particular, my grandmothers, Olga Borghill Moen Bragee and Mohtaram Zaman Javadi, and my mother, Nancy Olga Sharify, and my mother-in-law, Jan Kay Potter – all have been amazing role models. I offer deep reverence to their ways of wisdom, care, generosity, honesty, loyalty, and love. I am grateful for all the positive attributes they have modeled for me, qualities which provided life lessons from which I have gleaned and upon which I have leaned during these challenging, pandemic times of uncertainty and anxiety as well as throughout my life. I also would like to acknowledge a variety of individuals to whom I am genuinely indebted for their enduring support, unending patience, and kind understanding. First, I would like to thank the incredible staff at Routledge Publishers: Ceri McLardy, Iman Hakimi, Alison Macfarlane, Rebecca Clintworth, Emma Yuan, and Amy Doffegnies. Each in their own way helped this book come to fruition and I am grateful for their unwavering assistance throughout the writing and publishing processes. Friendship and collegiality are essential to any creative process, and I owe deep appreciation to those who have accompanied and inspired me while working on this project. To all my colleagues in the Department of Religion and Culture and the Muslim Studies Option at Wilfrid Laurier University as well as the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Waterloo, it is an honor to work with all of you and I thank you for all that you do to maintain a collaborative and intellectually dynamic space within the acad- emy – my professional “home away from home.” Over the years, I have gleaned from the support of brilliant research assis- tants who have helped me to explore the nuances of specific case studies about Muslim women in North America: Deborah Birkett, Judith Ellen Brunton, Munira Haddad, and Christina Woolner. I thank each of them for stimulating conversations and collaborations. For this book, Elysia Guzik was Acknowledgments ix essential, and I am beholden to her for meticulous research, editorial assis- tance, and, most of all, great friendship. My unending gratitude goes out to dear sisters of the heart around the world, including Margarita, Judy, Karuna, Hamil, Shahrzad, Shobhana, Brandi, Betsy, and Ayse. Your ways of being and friendships inspire me to mind my heart and remember the greater aspects of life. I also would like to extend this spirit of gratitude to Rory for all the rich and ongoing existential and intellectual dialogues about life, the academy, and Islamic thought and identity. My deepest gratitude goes to my soulmate and best friend, Nathan C. Funk. There are few words that can express what you mean to me. One is the Arabic word, baraka. It is a true blessing to be on this journey of life with you and to witness your wisdom, grace, patience, and ways of peace. Lastly, to Mikael Aziz, may this book remind you to constantly explore the depths of this beautiful world and all its diversity. May you seek for the patterns of connection and find inspiration in the unexpected. May you always be open to the wonder that is in and all around you.

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