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The Veil: Women Writers on Its History, Lore, and Politics 1st Edition

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This groundbreaking volume, written entirely by women, examines the vastly misunderstood and multilayered world of the veil. Veiling— of women, of men, and of sacred places and objects—has existed in countless cultures and religions from time immemorial. Today, veiling is a globally polarizing issue, a locus for the struggle between Islam and the West and between contemporary and traditional interpretations of Islam. But veiling was a practice long before Islam and still extends far beyond the Middle East. This book explores and examines the cultures, politics, and histories of veiling. Twenty-one gifted writers and scholars, representing a wide range of societies, religions, ages, locations, races, and accomplishments, here elucidate, challenge, and/or praise the practice. Expertly organized and introduced by Jennifer Heath, who also writes on male veiling, the essays are arranged in three parts: the veil as an expression of the sacred; the veil as it relates to the emotional and the sensual; and the veil in its sociopolitical aspects. This unique, dynamic, and insightful volume is illustrated throughout. It brings together a multiplicity of thought and experience, much of it personal, to make readily accessible a difficult and controversial subject.

Contributors: Kecia Ali, Michelle Auerbach, Sarah C. Bell, Barbara Goldman Carrel, Eve Grubin, Roxanne Kamayani Gupta, Jana M. Hawley, Jasbir Jain, Mohja Kahf, Laurene Lafontaine, Shireen Malik, Maliha Masood, Marjane Satrapi, Aisha Shaheed, Rita Stephan, Pamela K. Taylor, Ashraf Zahedi, Dinah Zeiger, Sherifa Zuhur
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Thoughtful [and] intelligent.” (The Times 2008-08-09)

“This thought-provoking collection of essays goes far in moving the veil away from any singular interpretation or judgment.” (
Daily Telegraph 2008-08-02)

“Provie[s] a wide spectrum of views, traditions, feelings and issues related to the human practice of covering the head and hair.” (
Bloomsbury Review 2009-01-01)

“The approach chosen for this anthology—reflective, meditative broad, and under exclusively female authorship—is commendable and refreshing.” (
Journal American Academy Of Religion/ Jaar 2009-07-01)

“Groundbreaking.” (
Wise (Women’s Islamic Initiative In Spirituality And Equity) 2008-07-01)

“A critical read for feminists and students of Women’s Studies in the United States.” (
Feminist Review 2008-10-07)

From the Inside Flap

"The twenty-one essays here, all by women, provide an exciting, first hand account of the significance of veiling, past and present, in various countries, religions and cultures. The editor's introduction is a wonderful exposition of the current scholarship regarding the sacred, sensual and sociopolitical connotations of the veil. The book brilliantly illuminates the universality of the veil, and reveals that it is not confined to Islam. The book should be compulsory reading for policy-makers all over the world. Anyone interested in the human condition (not only researchers in the fields of sociology or economics or literary and cultural studies) can profit from this scholarly yet jargon-free book."—Shyamala A. Narayan, Jamia Millia Islamia University

"A refreshingly three-dimensional portrait of the veil in history and in our contemporary world. This collection of essays turns the veil into a mirror, reflecting back upon us our own presumptions and prejudices. You will learn something about yourself in these pages."—Asifa Quraishi

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ University of California Press; 1st edition (July 2, 2008)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 360 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0520250400
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0520250406
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.55 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.25 x 1 x 9.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2015
    I just finished reading The Veil: Women Writers on Its History, Lore and Politics. I was disappointed. I wanted a look at the veil in VARIOUS cultures. It was 80% Muslim, which I suppose I should have expected, but was still a little disappointed in. It’s easy to find writing on the hijab and abaya, I was hoping the book went beyond that. What was the real disappointment was that the book was 75% looking down on women who veiled in a very specific way: It said over and over that women who wore the veil were political tools and rarely chose it. And if they did choose it, it was because they were old fashioned or uneducated. Modern “intellectual” women never veil, according to this book. It almost never spoke of women who WANTED to and why they chose it, but often talked about women who didn’t and how they saw women that do. I found most of the articles condescending and belittling. Some articles only very tangentially related to veiling, but instead were a platform to condemn one Muslim country or another, or a historical look at something that might mention a veil. There was nothing Greek in there at all (which disappointed me). I wouldn’t recommend the book. The articles are well written, but they go down in quality and content as you read and many of them are carbon copies of each other. I loved the concept, but the book fell flat. 3 out of 5 stars.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2015
    As an anthology, this book is full of diverse outlooks and insights. It has been very helpful to me for research. Thanks to the editor for pulling together a group of essays that touch on the intimacy, challenges and humor of being a woman.
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2008
    A very revealing and insightful book. A compilation of 21 essays, all written by women - Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Hindu...; from all parts of the globe; provides an illuminating history of the veil throughout the ages and into the 21st century. The practice of the veil is explained, challenged, justified, criticized, honored, as it rips through the stereotype i.e. the oppressed Muslim woman.
    Is the veil oppressive or is it liberating?
    Is it imposed or is it by choice?
    It does make you think!
    And it does make you wonder!
    The essays are priceless!
    10 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2008
    Like an inspired mosaic (originally a Muslim art form) author and editor Jennifer Heath has assembled a stunning array of twenty-one essays by women on all aspects of veiling across the ages and a variety of cultures including the controversial concerns of our day. This collection raises many questions and provides a diversity of answers from women of all faiths and political persuasions.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2008
    This book gives a wonderful overview of have women see themselves and how they can be seen.
    4 people found this helpful
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