Women And Gender In Islam by Leila Ahmed
Historical Roots of a Modern Debate
A sweeping historical and critical study that traces how ideas and practices concerning women and gender in Muslim societies evolved from late antiquity through the classical Islamic period into the colonial and modern eras, showing how legal, social, and religious constructions of femininity were reshaped by changing economic conditions, state formations, and intellectual currents. It challenges simplistic or ahistorical narratives—whether orientalist or reformist—by examining the diversity of interpretations of scripture, the impact of colonialism and nationalism, and the emergence of both feminist and Islamist responses, while highlighting women's agency within shifting constraints. The book situates debates over veiling, seclusion, legal rights, and education in broader political and historical contexts to explain why contemporary gender norms vary so widely across Muslim societies.
- Published
- 1992
- Nationality
- American
- Length
- Unknown
- Pages
- Unknown
- Original Language
- English
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