The Veil Unveiled: The Hijab in Modern Culture

241 Pages·2001·9.805 MB·English

by  Faegheh Shirazi

The Veil Unveiled:
The Hijab
in Modern Culture
University Press of Florida
The Veil Unveiled
Florida A&M University, Tallahassee
UWF UNIVERSITYPRESS FloFrliodrai dGau Alft lCanotaisct UUnniivveerrssiittyy,, BFoocrat RMayteorns
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U USF University of Florida, Gainesville
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University of West Florida, Pensacola
University Press of Florida
gainesville · tallahassee · tampa · boca raton
pensacola · orlando · miami · jacksonville · ft. myers
the veil
Unveiled
The Hijab in Modern Culture
Faegheh Shirazi
Copyright 2001 by the Board of Regents of the State of Florida
Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper
All rights reserved
06 05 04 03 02 01 6 5 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Shirazi, Faegheh, 1952–
The veil unveiled: the hijab in modern culture / Faegheh Shirazi.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
isbn 0-8130-2084-0 (alk. paper)
1. Veils—Social aspects. 2. Muslim women—Costume.
3. Costume—Erotic aspects. 4. Muslim women in art. 5. Purdah.
6. Purdah in literature. I. Title.
gt2112 .s56 2001
391.4'3—dc21 00-053667
The University Press of Florida is the scholarly publishing agency for
the State University System of Florida, comprising Florida A&M
University, Florida Atlantic University, Florida Gulf Coast University,
Florida International University, Florida State University, University
of Central Florida, University of Florida, University of North
Florida, University of South Florida, and University of West Florida.
University Press of Florida
15 Northwest 15th Street
Gainesville, FL 32611–2079
http://www.upf.com
To my late father, Dr. Mahmood Shirazi,
whose dedication to and interest in the lives and
education of his children are truly admirable.

Contents
List of Figures ix
Note on Transliteration xi
Acknowledgments xiii
Introduction 1
1. Veiled Images in Advertising 10
2. Veiled Images in American Erotica 39
3. The Cinematics of the Veil 62
4. Iranian Politics and the Hijab 88
5. Militarizing the Veil 110
6. Literary Dynamics of the Veil 138
Conclusion 175
Notes 181
Glossary 201
Bibliography 205
Index 213

Figures
1.1 Advertisement for Virginia Slims 17
1.2 Advertisement for Bijan 19
1.3 Photograph of label on box of soup. President’s Choice Instant
Vegetable Couscous Soup 20
1.4 Advertisement for Kotex sanitary napkins, October 1996 27
1.5 Advertisement for Kotex sanitary napkins, February 1994 27
1.6 Advertisement for Signal toothpaste 31
1.7 Advertisement for Concord watches, October 1993 32
1.8 Advertisement for Concord watches, October 1994 34
1.9 Advertisement for Concord watches, November 1994 35
1.10 Advertisement for Concord watches, May 1995 36
1.11 Advertisement for Concord watches, October 1996 37
2.1 Cartoon, Playboy, January 1966 51
2.2 Cartoon, Playboy, July 1983 53
2.3 Cartoon, Playboy, March 1977 54
2.4 Cartoon, Playboy, November 1967 55
2.5 Cartoon, Playboy, April 1986 57