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The Veil Unveiled: The Hijab in Modern Culture

January 2001
The International Journal of African Historical Studies 34(1):176

DOI:10.2307/3097311

Authors:

Faegheh - Shirazi

University of Texas at Austin

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Title:

 !" #

$#%% &"'()*+,,--''* (."*

Database:

$%/%&%01/ 

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THE VEIL UNVEILED (Book)

Section: 2234&

!$523136700&089: 

:;#6 -''*;<:--*=>>''

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:7?0   0  &0 0 #"

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/" <"  :7  B  0 "?/:  B    0

7%

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/78 ; ?   ;0" :    <   0

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: %0%C780 0#/ 



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#/ 0:#:#70: 0#%"

/7F0  "C  /  /7  #"F%/  

0

9:0</7#0?C "?%  /

   :7  #%"    0"    %  #  %0      

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From Theory to Practice: A Collection of Essays on Morality and Controversial Practices Involving Women

Article

Jan 2017

Skyler Johnston

What follows are three essays I wrote showing the development of my thinking on a life well lived, and how that thought pattern applies itself to women and issues affecting them. There is a difficult balance between right and wrong in many scenarios life presents us. I understand there are those of you reading this who will fall on the other side of the fence from me, and that is okay. I only ask that you consider the information I present, and discern for yourself what your own conscience guides you to believe.

Jilbab: The Interplay of Ideology, Dress Code, and Consumerism

Article

Full-text available

Apr 2025

The jilbab, transcending its status as a symbol of religious observance for Muslim women, is now a complex global phenomenon fraught with contested meanings and practices. This research aims to analyze how contemporary jilbab practices and representations are dynamically negotiated at the crucial intersection of ideological forces (religious and political), the logic of dress semiotics as a sign system, and the penetration of global consumer culture. Using a qualitative approach relying on Barthesian semiotic analysis alongside thematic and content analysis of textual and visual data (literature, media, documentation), this study unpacks the interaction of these three dimensions. Findings indicate that the jilbab functions as a visual text with non-singular meanings; diverse styles communicate different and often ambiguous semiotic significations, which are continuously constructed and contested within the ideological arena through struggles over religious interpretation, identity politics, and feminist discourses. Furthermore, it was found that intensive commodification processes through the fashion industry and media have integrated the jilbab into the logic of consumer culture, creating tensions between values of piety, aesthetic expression, and consumptive desire. It is concluded that a holistic understanding of the contemporary jilbab necessitates an interdisciplinary analysis that moves beyond simplistic dichotomies, recognizing the jilbab as a dynamic site of Muslimah identity negotiation amidst the complex interplay of ideology, the dress sign system, and global market hegemony.

COMPULSORY HIJAB IN IRAN Functions and impacts on Iranians' daily life during 44 years of Islamic State

Thesis

Full-text available

Jul 2024

Fatemeh Shirazizadeh

The thesis examines the concept of mandatory hijab as a tool for governing female bodies by providing them with different roles, values, and positions in society, based on hierarchical classification. While the number of educated and working women has increased in Iran, gender-based violence has increased. Moreover, the government has increased efforts to limit and contain the social activities of women in accordance with the Islamic Republic's mandatory hijab. The goal of this dissertation is to argue about compulsory hijab which is more than compulsory veiling in Iran. It pushes women to be isolated and affects people's everyday life. For this reason, meaning and functions of compulsory hijab in men and women's daily life are examined by the analyses of conducted qualitative interviews. The importance of this research is about women's resistance. It demonstrates how limitation and containment contribute to violence against women and push women and men to accept unequal roles, values and positions. When we have a better insight of compulsory hijab's dimensions, then we can understand its structure and we will find better ways to resist.

Authoring a Muslim Feminist “Self” Through Travel Writing: Reclaiming Agency Through Islam

Article

Full-text available

Feb 2025
Fem Theolog

This article aims to analyze nineteenth and twentieth-century travel writing by a Muslim woman writer, Nur Begum, who embarked on a 3-month journey to perform Hajj (pilgrimage). We aim to unravel her deliberate choice of poetic form as travel writing, which we argue consciously manifests her resistance against the prevailing patriarchal norms set by the Muslim culture. The study draws on Bakhtin’s dialogic framework of the human “self” as an agent engaged in constant negotiation of meanings as he emphasizes the link between human struggle for voice and their activity and growth. Within this theoretical framework, we decipher how Nur Begum authors her “feminist self” in a struggle to articulate her voice against patriarchy that denies her individuality. Moreover, we use insights from Muslim feminist scholarship (e.g. post-patriarchal reading of Islam and feminist theology) to explain how selected verses from Nur Begum’s travel writing deconstruct the myths emerging from the patriarchal interpretation of Islam and social practices in Muslim societies.

Balancing the Tension Between Comprehensibility and Preserving Authenticity in the Translation of Muslim Fashion Designations

Chapter

Full-text available

Dec 2024

The veiling of Muslim women, along with their rights and freedoms, is currently a subject of intense debate. Veiling rules exhibit variations based on regional, financial, and social statuses. Beyond its religious connotations, veiling serves as a significant social and cultural symbol. This chapter delves into the translation of culture-motivated expressions of Muslim fashion depicted in Khaled Hosseini’s works from English into Slovak. It examines the challenges and nuances involved in translating not only linguistic elements but also culturally specific aspects related to fashion and identity. By investigating how the translator navigates and conveys the cultural complexities of Muslim attire, the chapter seeks to illuminate the impact of translation choices on the representation of these expressions in a new cultural context. This exploration contributes to the broader understanding of the intricacies in translating culturally rich literary content, emphasizing the importance of maintaining cultural authenticity while making adaptations for the target audience.

BOOK.....Fashion Pedia

Chapter

Full-text available

Sep 2024

Textiles represent the ingenuity, creativity, and resilience of humanity, serving as both practical items and powerful symbols of culture, identity, and heritage. Historically, textiles have evolved alongside human civilization, reflecting social values, traditions, and aspirations through traditional attire, religious contexts, and tools of social advocacy. In modern times, textiles extend beyond fashion to include sustainable innovations and advanced applications such as smart fabrics and architectural materials. With increasing emphasis on sustainability, advanced materials, and interdisciplinary collaboration, the textile industry has immense potential to address global challenges, personalize consumer demands, and foster inclusivity. By weaving tradition with innovation, textiles can continue to thrive, ensuring a brighter and more sustainable future for generations to come.

Trajectories of Iranian Migrants in Madrid

Thesis

Jan 2023

Anita Roshan

This thesis is a sociolinguistic ethnography to explore the socialization and lived experiences of Iranian migrants in Madrid. It investigates the trajectories, language barriers, application of English as a lingua franca, Spanish language learning, language investment, and socialization dynamics of first-generation Iranian adults, with a particular emphasis on PhD students. Thus, drawing on Martín Rojo and Del Percio's (2019) theory of neoliberal governmentality as a foundation, I examine how neoliberalism influences subjectivities, trajectories, attitudes, social identity, socialization, language choice, and investment. This study's methodological design comprises ethnographic fieldwork conducted in two separate contexts between January 2018 and February 2020, as well as participant observations, interviews, focus groups, and documents. The two settings that are designated to undertake the ethnographic fieldwork are a religious center and an educational institution. In order to provide a thorough interpretation of the data, content analysis is designated as the analytical technique. The data analysis for this study is covered in three chapters: three, four, and five. Chapter three, which is the first data analysis chapter, discusses the discovery of the Iranian community in Madrid and the identification of two field sites for the current ethnography. Since the major objective of this chapter is to explore the participants' migration trajectories and motivations to migrate to Spain, this chapter discusses Spain's migration policies as well as Iranian migration motivations and alternative destinations. There is also discussion of the participants' linguistic repertoire, motivations for relocating to Spain, and future intentions. The data supplied in this chapter serves as a foundation for the two following data analysis chapters. Chapter four's main objectives are the participants' linguistic challenges and the strategies they employed in order to get through them. English being used as a lingua franca is one of the primary methods for overcoming linguistic barriers; hence, Englishization is well covered. Considering language and culture are inextricably linked, cultural differences are explored as another challenge that V participants may encounter while socializing in the host nation. Furthermore, it is examined how Englishization may alter participants' attitudes toward the usage of English in higher education and their linguistic preferences. In chapter five, the motivation of the participants for learning Spanish and their perspective regarding the value of understanding the local language are explored. Thus, drawing on Norton's investment theory, language investment is discussed in terms of political economy. In addition, the dynamics of the classroom are analyzed, since engaging in Spanish classes could be an investment in learning the local tongue. The willingness of the participants to interact with locals and their language practices in society are also explored. Finally, in the conclusion chapter, the major contributions of this dissertation are underlined. The findings contribute significantly to the field of sociolinguistics by highlighting neoliberalism, Englishization in higher education, the challenges of migrants (mainly PhD students), and migrants' socialization in the host nation.

(W)Rapping the hijab: The question of agency and freedom in Mona Haydar’s hijabi

Article

Jan 2025

Soumyarup Bhattacharjee

Religious monoglossia/heteroglossia and discourses of women leadership in Pakistani higher education

Article

Full-text available

Oct 2024
Educ Manag Admin Leader

A growing body of literature reveals how women in higher education are either excluded from leadership roles or face challenges when they take such responsibilities. The role of religion in Muslim societies is vital to understand Muslim women's sense of “self” and their academic leadership roles and engagement in social and political activities. This study uses Bakhtin's writings as well as a feminist perspective in Islam to unpack how religious discourses shape and construe Muslim women's leadership roles in a public university in Pakistan. Data in this study was drawn from two sources: (a) semi-structured interviews with women academic leaders and academics and (b) focus group discussions with postgraduate students. Findings suggest that discourse around women's leadership in higher education in Pakistan is influenced by a male-centric religious monoglossia characterized by discourses on the hijab, masculinist religious epistemologies, and male-centric divine imagery. In addition, the study points to heteroglossic de-centering of the religious monoglossia by suggesting heteroglossic fluidity in Pakistani religious ethics that favors women's roles as leaders in higher education. A heteroglossic fluidity is characterized by how Islam is viewed as a national project, interpreted along sectarian and gendered lines, and often misused to discourage women from assuming leadership roles.

Persécutions des femmes

Chapter

Nov 2007

Carol Mann

ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any references for this publication.

The Veil Unveiled: The Hijab in Modern Culture

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