Here is a nice piece from HuffPo that tries to understand why Muslim women wear the hijab. I think it is still a bit essentializing, but overall is very good.
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The White (Wo)Man’s Burden
Fatemeh F. drops some science: These wars actively undermined the work of feminist and women’s organizations within war-torn countries; in a time of conflict, everyone’s first priority is survival and winning, rather than concern about “women’s issues.” The Revolutionary Association of Women of Afghanistan was founded for the societal and political advancement of Afghan women in 1977, well before the United States aimed to “liberate” them in 2001. Yet few feminist organizations recognized that RAWA, or any other group led by Afghan women, was fighting its own battle against the Taliban.
The Female Factor – What the Head Scarf Means, When Everyone Wears One – NYTimes.com
Wait, Muslim women have opinions about veiling? Who knew? [/sarcasm] The Female Factor – What the Head Scarf Means, When Everyone Wears One – NYTimes.com. To take off the veil, as some women have done, is to ask the candid question of what it means to be a Muslim woman today.
Being a Muslim and being a feminist are not mutually exclusive by Fatemeh Fakhraie – Common Ground News Service
Being a Muslim and being a feminist are not mutually exclusive by Fatemeh Fakhraie – Common Ground News Service. Ethos – the fundamental spirit that guides my faith– is more important to me than edicts, or strict dogma, and so when religious questions arise, I defer to big-picture themes. One of Islam’s major themes is that of equity and justice. The Qur’an details equitable divorce proceedings, fair treatment of orphans and just conduct when it comes to prisoners of war — situations that differ in details and circumstances in our modern times, but which are often fraught with unfairness and…