Sisters in the Mirror: A History of Muslim Women and the Global Politics of Feminism

Elora Shehabuddin's book "Sisters in the Mirror" provides a unique and engaging history of feminism as a story of colonial and postcolonial interactions between Western and Muslim societies. It challenges the view that the Muslim world is the last and most difficult frontier of global feminism and shows how changes in womens lives and feminist strategies have reflected wider changes in national and global politics and economics. The book is organized around stories of encounters between women and men from South Asia, Britain, and the United States that led them to reconsider norms in their own society, including cherished ideas about womens roles and rights.

Format: Hardback
Length: 416 pages
Publication date: 24 August 2021
Publisher: University of California Press

A captivating and thought-provoking book, Sisters in the Mirror, delves into the intricate and interconnected histories of Western and Muslim feminisms, challenging the notion that the Muslim world represents the final frontier of global feminism. Authored by Elora Shehabuddin, this work offers a fresh perspective on feminism as a narrative of colonial and postcolonial interactions between Western and Muslim societies. It sheds light on the struggles and achievements of Muslim women, both as individuals and within various groups, including those that transcend their religious identity and practices.

Throughout history, Muslim women have faced numerous challenges, including disparities in wealth and power, the effects of colonization, wars, economic sanctions, and Western feminist outreach. However, Muslims have also developed their own ideas about women's and men's lives in the West, which have significant implications for their feminist aspirations within their own societies.

Sisters in the Mirror spans from the eighteenth-century Enlightenment era to the present-day War on Terror, tracing how changes in women's lives and feminist strategies have been closely linked to broader shifts in national and global politics and economics. The book highlights the resilience and adaptability of Muslim women as they navigate a world that often oppresses and marginalizes them.

Through its comprehensive analysis, Sisters in the Mirror provides valuable insights into the complex dynamics of gender, religion, and power. It challenges readers to think critically about the historical and contemporary intersections of feminism and Islam and encourages them to work towards a more inclusive and equitable world for all. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in gender studies, history, and social justice.

Weight: 734g
Dimension: 237 x 160 x 35 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520342514