Muslim Women's Choices

Camillia Fawzi El-Solh Research Associate,Centre for Cross-Cultural Research on Women, University of Oxford Judy Mabro Freelance Editor

'...the editors and contributors...aid in our understanding of the impact of current political and social events on women.'MAN'...a strong anthology examining a broad range of contemporary women's experiences.'The Bookwatch'It is particularly striking to see the very flexible and varied way that Islam is interpreted and used by women to negotiate their lives and responsibilities.'British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies'...this collection exemplifies...the acknowledgement of human agency, that people (even women) have options and constantly make choices among them. ...By including societies until recently ignored in Muslim studies, the editors underscore the reach of Muslim culture. ...Especially relevant and welcome are the contrasts between women living in majority and minority Muslim communities, and studies of communities not frequently researched.'MEWS Review'presents an image of Muslim women different from the western perception which tends to be narrowly confin

• Introduction, C.F. El-Solh and J. Mabro; separation and reconciliation - marital conflict among the Muslim poor in Cairo, H. Watson; strategies of selection - differing notions of marriage in Iran and Morocco, Z. Mir-Hosseini; Islam and gender - the Nigerian case, G. Thomas-Emeagwali; separate but more than equal - Muslim women at the Cape, R. Ridd; mixed motives - Islam, nationalism and Mevluds in an unstable Yugoslavia, C. Soragbji; guardians of the faith? - gender and religion in an (ex) Soviet Tajik village, G. Tett; Islam in Azerbaijan - the position of women, T. Dragadze; women's labour in the Bangladesh garment industry - choices and constraints, N. Kabeer; gender relations and Islamic resurgence in Mindanao, Southern Philippines, J. Siapno.