Fall 2005

ISL 372 • Veiling in The Muslim World

Course Description

This course will deal with the cultural significance and historical practices of veiling, Hijab, in the Muslim world. The issue of veiling as it relates to women has been subject to different interpretations and viewed from various perspectives , and with recent political developments and the resurgence of Islam, the debate over it and over womens roles in Muslim countries has taken various shapes. A number of Muslim countries are going back to their Islamic traditions and implementing a code of behavior that involves some form of veiling in public and/or segregation to various degrees for women. In some Muslim nations women are reveiling on their own. In others, women resist the enforcement of such practices. We will examine the various perspectives, interpretations and practices relating to Hijab in the Muslim world with respect to politics, religion and womens issues.

Grading Policy

Weekly presentations-Written Summeries 20% Class attendence and active participation 10% Midterm Research Paper/Oral Presentatio 30% Final Resarch Paper/Oral Presentation 40%

Texts

Reader's Packets Faegheh Shirazi. The Veil Unveiled: The Hijab in Modern Culture. University Press of Florida. 2003 Fatima Mernissi. The Veil and the Male Elite. Assison-Wesley.1994

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