Islam, Gender and Social Change

In Islam, Gender and Social Change, Yvonne Yazbeck Haddad and John L. Esposito explore the effect of the reassertion of Islam in personal and political life. Esposito especially investigates the effect of this resurgence of Islam on women. The essays explore the effects on women in historical context and offer case studies of Muslim societies from North Africa to Southeast Asia. The studies shed light on the impact of the Islamic resurgence on gender issues in Iran, Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Oman, Bahrain, the Phillippines, and Kuwait. While the real challenges women confront in Muslim societies are treated with seriousness, the collection as a whole resists the stereotype of a monolithic Muslim culture that singularly oppresses women, calling attention to cultural nuances and diversity. For a regional focus on Bahrain, refer to the chapter entitled "Women in Religion in Bahrain: An Emerging Identity."