RE: interesting post on women and Islam from Progressivemuslimsnetwork

i had a couple of initial reactions to this post. i do agree that the forced 
donning of hijab emanates from issues of male power/dominance, which should 
be denounced in all instances, but the hijab is a complicated phenomenon b/c 
in some instances (like Iran and Turkey) women use the hijab as a political 
tool--as a means of gaining access to public space and increase their 
perceived religio-political credibility (although i don't believe 
credibility should be predicated on physical appearance, unfortunately it is 
a present day reality that we must confront). furthermore, this post implies 
that those who wear hijab are, by necessity, staying at home and out of the 
public space, which, again, unfortunately is true in some misogynistic 
societies like saudi and pakistan, but we must not forget that there are a 
significant number of hijabi women in other societies such as the US, 
malaysia, iran, etc. are seeking higher levels of education, are leaders of 
their muslim students, and are an instrumental part of many civic muslim and 
secular institutions.

furthermore, i disagree that hijab strips women of identity. it may not 
allow women to style their hair in a way that reflects their personality, 
but this argument presumes that identity is only manifested in the freedom 
to keep your hair the way you like it (which i think you should be able to 
do). however, that does not mean that hijabi women (who have access to 
public space) do not have an identity. in fact, per Rhys Williams' study of 
American Muslim women, it was found that hijabi Muslim American women 
negotiate their multiple American and Muslim identities and the hijab serves 
as one means of that asserting that, especially since many women choose to 
do it, even though their families may discourage it.

i do, however, find that women are over sexualized in islamic discourse, as 
they are in a society like America--just in different ways. and i do 
question why we pray in the back of the masjid (knowing that the common 
understanding is that it would be immodest for women to prostrate in prayer 
while men look on), but this explanation is extremely problematic for 
obvious reason (discounts women looking at men in a sexual manner, etc). AND 
i do think that we do need to create a space for discourse surrounding 
women's inability to deliver khutbas. (i once asked about this and was told 
that it's part of the Friday Prayer ritual that the person delivering the 
khutba also leads the congregational prayer, and a women can't lead prayer 
for aforementioned reasons.) that convo really needs to be underway....

lastly, it would be nice if women and men could pray together, that women 
could choose to wear hijab if they wanted and not be banned from schools 
(i.e. France), that women could choose to NOT wear hijab and not be seen as 
less devoted to their faith, and lead prayers and all that....but i think 
that women and men praying side by side does not necessarily lead to the 
waning of gender inequality b/w muslim men and women. there must be a 
simultaneous effort to change the current discourse on gender, gender 
relations, and detach women and men from prescribed "roles" in society (e.g. 
men are financial providers, women responsible for raising good Muslim 
children), that are based on essentialist notions of gender.

thanks for listening and, btw, when i tried to subscribe to this mailing 
list it, i received a "Delivery Failure" email, so i may not receive any 
email replies sent to the listserv...

----- Original Message -----
From: "Kate Ahmad" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, February 02, 2004 7:20 PM
Subject: RE: [Progressivemuslimsnetwork] Re: ProgressiveMuslims digest, Vol
1 #357 - 14 msgs


 > Salaam,
 > I agree, and I also thought the letter was great.  Being in australia I
cant
 > offer my support in person, but I would like to in some other form.
 > Do you think muslims over sexualise the female body, or perhaps its
 > something else?  To me, it seems a lot about keeping women in a less
 > powerful position than men.  Everything from hijab, segragated mosques,
the
 > lack of female imams etc - they all add up to make women inferior and
 > submissive to the will of men.  The hijab, progressing to the niqaab and
 > burqa really serves to depersonalise women - and women can never be
 > prominent in society if they have no identity.  So - if you cover your
wife,
 > and make her stay at home, or in a back room at the mosque - you can be
sure
 > she will never have any influence on the outside world.  Thats why you 
see
2
 > year old girls in hijab - its not a sexual thing - its a power thing.
 > The whole situation is ridiculous.......... why have muslims come to this
 > point where most of our effort go into rabidly enforcing rules to keep
women
 > out of public life, in fear that they might incite the dreaded fitna!!!?
 > Insha'allah women will one day pray with men, and maybe even behind a
female
 > imam one day - that would be fantastic!!!
 >
 > Wa'salaam
 > aisha
 >
 >
 > >From: Safiyya Noureddine <[email protected]>
 > >Reply-To: [email protected]
 > >To: [email protected]
 > >Subject: [Progressivemuslimsnetwork] Re: ProgressiveMuslims digest, Vol 
1
 > >#357 - 14 msgs
 > >Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2004 07:03:08 -0800 (PST)
 > >
 > >Asalaam Alaikuum
 > >
 > >The letter was great, I think it is important for the masjid "elites" to
 > >know that many of us support what she did.  I also think that it is 
great
 > >that she is starting a list in regards to the issue.  Muslims need   to
 > >stop oversexualizing the female body.   I personally think that is what
it
 > >all comes down to in the end.  Take care.
 > >
 > >safiyya
 > >
 > >
 > >
 > >
 > >---------------------------------
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