Oppression versus liberation: Representation of hijab in two post-9/11 British literary texts

Hasan, Md. Mahmudul (2016) Oppression versus liberation: Representation of hijab in two post-9/11 British literary texts. Hawwa: Journal of Women of the Middle East and the Islamic World, 14 (2). pp. 147-165. ISSN 1569-2078 E-ISSN 1569-2086

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Abstract

This article analyzes the representation of hijab and of hijab-wearing women in two post-9/11 British literary texts, Leila Aboulela’s Minaret (2005) and Shelina Janmohamed’s Love in a Headscarf (2009). It discusses the strong resolve of the heroines of these works with regard to wearing the hijab despite opposition to it from within their peers, friends and family members as well as Islamophobic hostility to this most overt and visible marker of Muslim identity. While many women wear hijab instinctively and without question in order to follow their religion and cultural tradition, Najwa in the fictional work Minaret and Shelina in the memoir Love in a Headscarf decide to wear it reflectively after long contemplation and much soul searching. Such experiences convincingly and creatively refute the assumption that hijab is imposed on Muslim women by male relatives and dispel the most widespread stereotype that it is synonymous with female oppression.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Additional Information:	6409/52002
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Leila Aboulela, Shelina Janmohamed, hijab, sartorial freedom, Muslim women, the Muslim diaspora in Britain
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman > HQ1101 Women. Feminism B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc > BP1 Islam > BP174 The Practice of Islam > BP188 Islamic religious life B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc > BP1 Islam > BP50 History > BP52.5 Muslim in non-Muslim countries P Language and Literature > PR English literature
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences > Department of English Language & Literature
Depositing User:	Dr. Md. Mahmudul Hasan
Date Deposited:	23 Sep 2016 10:17
Last Modified:	03 Oct 2017 15:44
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/52002

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