The limits of force/choice discourses in discussing Muslim women's dress codes
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Abstract
As the question of Muslim women’s dress codes comes under intense media and political scrutiny, two competing discourses have emerged. The first of these discourses centres around the veil (in whatever form) as a symbol of patriarchal force. The second discourse has emerged largely in response to the first, and asserts that covering is an exercise in women’s choice and a symbol of female empowerment. This paper argues that neither of these discourses adequately describes the complex negotiations that Muslim women employ with regard to dress. I discuss the discourse of ‘force’ with regard to media imagery of Taliban era Afghanistan, and ‘choice’ with regard to contemporary Australia, grappling with the issue of how to challenge the representation of the Muslim women’s dress as a symbol of oppression without reinforcing its standing as a symbol of cultural loyalty.
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Cannold, L. (2005) "For equality, ban the hijab in public schools", The Age, Melbourne, 31 August 2005. < http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/for-equality-ban-the-hijab-in-publicschools/2005/08/30/1125302562666.html >
Dreher, T. & Simmons, F. (2006) "Australian Muslim Women's Media Interventions", Feminist Media Studies 6(1): 101-120.
Dwyer, C. (2000) "Negotiating diasporic identities: Young british south asian muslim women", Women's Studies International Forum 23(4): 481. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0277-5395(00)00110-2
Ho, C. (2007) "Muslim women's new defenders: Women's rights, nationalism and Islamophobia in contemporary Australia", Women's Studies International Forum 30:4: 290-298. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wsif.2007.05.002
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Kolhatkar, S. (2003) "'Saving' Afghan Women", Peuples & Monde, 22 Décembre, 2003. < http://www.peuplesmonde.com/article.php3?id_article=12 >
Lerner, Sharon (2001) "What Women Want", Village Voice, Nov 6, 2001: 53-55.
Mattar, D. T. (2006) "Edited Transcript of Sheik Hilali's speech", The Australian, Sydney, Oct 22, 2006, < http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20653032-601,00.html >
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Wadud, A. (2006) Inside the Gender Jihad: Women's Reform in Islam, OneWorld, Oxford.