Muslim New Womanhood in Bangladesh

This book explores how categories of gender, class, culture, and religion shape hierarchies of social locations and peoples' sense of belonging in South Asia. It offers an alternative theoretical framework, new womanhood, for studying middle-class, urban, educated, professional women in Bangladesh. It establishes new women as part of the neoliberal middle class, claiming inter-class and intra-class distinction from other women. The book critiques Western feminist writing and challenges binary social constructions of Muslim women, developing an understanding of cosmopolitan Muslim womens classed gender identity as a struggle against classifications in the neoliberal times.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 140 pages
Publication date: 29 January 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This captivating book delves into the intricate interplay of gender, class, culture, and religion as powerful modes of power that shape hierarchies of social locations and shape individuals' sense of belonging within these spaces and temporalities. It presents a groundbreaking theoretical framework, known as "new womanhood," to explore the lives of middle-class, urban, educated, professional women in South Asia.

At the heart of this exploration lies the concept of respectable femininity, which serves as a central catalyst in the construction and performance of new womanhood in Bangladesh. This multifaceted and diverse construction of womanhood emerges as a result of women's intricate negotiations with roles in both the public and private spheres, as well as cultural norms governing female propriety. The book establishes new women as integral members of the neoliberal middle class, as they actively construct their class identity as a distinct status group, asserting their inter-class and intra-class distinctions from other women.

Furthermore, the book sheds light on the diverse practices of respectability that underpin new womanhood, recognizing that these practices vary based on factors such as age, stage of life, profession, household setting, and experiences of living in Western countries. It explores how new women navigate these practices, often substituting, concealing, or legitimizing particular forms of respectability in specific fields. While these new women's gains are primarily focused on their individual selves rather than a broader feminist politics, they hold the potential to positively influence the broader terrain of possibilities for other women.

In conclusion, this book offers a profound and thought-provoking analysis of the complex dynamics of gender, class, culture, and religion in shaping the lives of women in South Asia. Through its innovative theoretical framework and comprehensive exploration of respectability practices, it provides valuable insights into the experiences and struggles of new women as they navigate the complexities of contemporary society. By challenging binary social constructions and offering alternative perspectives, this book contributes to our understanding of gender, power, and social change in the global context.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032269863