Why Muslim women should not wear the veil
Across much of the world today, Muslim women of all ages are
increasingly choosing to wear the veil. Is this trend a sign of rising
piety or a way of asserting Muslim pride? And does the veil really
provide women freedom from sexual harassment? Written in the form of
letters addressing all those interested in this issue, Questioning the
Veil examines the inconsistent and inadequate reasons given for the
veil, and points to the dangers and limitations of this highly
questionable cultural practice. Marnia Lazreg, a preeminent authority in
Middle East women's studies, combines her own experiences growing up in
a Muslim family in Algeria with interviews and the real-life stories of
other Muslim women to produce this nuanced argument for doing away with
the veil.
Lazreg stresses that the veil is not included in the five pillars of
Islam, asks whether piety sufficiently justifies veiling, explores the
adverse psychological effects of the practice on the wearer and those
around her, and pays special attention to the negative impact of veiling
for young girls. Lazreg's provocative findings indicate that far from
being spontaneous, the trend toward wearing the veil has been driven by
an organized and growing campaign that includes literature, DVDs,
YouTube videos, and courses designed by some Muslim men to teach women
about their presumed rights under the veil.
An incisive mix of the personal and political, supported by meticulous
research, Questioning the Veil will compel all readers to reconsider
their views of this controversial and sensitive topic.
