Behind the Veil in Arabia: Women in Oman [Paperback]

Unni Wikan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1991 | ISBN-10: 0226896838 | ISBN-13: 978-0226896830

Through photographs and detailed case histories, Unni Wikan explores the strict segregation of women, the wearing of the burqa mask, the elaborate nuptial rituals, and the graceful quality of Oman's social relations.

"Wikan does provide insights into the real position of these secluded and segregated women. . . . All this is interesting and valuable."—Ahdaf Soueif, Times Literary Supplement

"The book is detailed, insightful, and . . . engrossing. Anyone interested in the day-to-day triumphs and sorrows of women who live 'behind the veil' will want to read this account."—Arab Book World

"Wikan, a fine ethnographer, has an eye for everything that is distinctive about the culture and . . . builds up a wholly convincing picture. Above all, there is a sustained attempt to penetrate the inner lives of these strangely serene people."—Frank H. Stewart, Wilson Quarterly

"This book will certainly be of interest to all scholars concerned with sexual identity in the Islamic world."—Henry Munson, American Anthropologist

Product Details

• Paperback: 328 pages
• Publisher: University Of Chicago Press (May 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0226896838
• ISBN-13: 978-0226896830
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,132,941 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #24 in Books > History > Middle East > Oman

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting study of early development in Oman, September 15, 2004

By 

Erika Mitchell (E. Calais, VT USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Behind the Veil in Arabia: Women in Oman (Hardcover)

This book reports on two short field studies done by a female Norwegian anthropologist in Sohar, Oman in the mid-1970s. The book mostly focuses on the relationship of women to their families and marriage roles. Her descriptions of women's lives in this community in Oman just after the country opened up to foreigners are extremely interesting, as the society has no doubt changed dramatically along with the economic transformations. The community that she describes is unique in their emphasis on nonverbal means of communication. Indeed, one of the author's main points is that people researching cultures must be alert to all forms of communication, not simply verbal forms. The author is careful throughout to stress that her observations are those of an outsider trying to comprehend what she observes. Naturally, it would also be very interesting to get an insider's viewpoint for comparison, but for a number of reasons, this was not possible at the time, and now the society she describes probably no longer exists in the same form. I would recommend this book to anyone studying history of society or development in Oman or the Gulf countries. It would also be interesting for those studying gender roles in the Muslim or Arab worlds.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, October 28, 2007

By 

Inveterate Reader - See all my reviews

This review is from: Behind the Veil in Arabia: Women in Oman (Paperback)

I very seldom feel compelled to add my voice to the din, but in light of the other reviews this book has received, I wanted to give my perspective.

This is one of the most brilliant books I have ever read. This could have been very dry, like an academic thesis, but the author manages to write eloquently and makes these women come to life. It is not a portrait of all the women in Arabia, nor even in Oman. It is a glimpse into the life of few women in a single neighborhood in Sohar. And what a life it is. I couldn't imagine living like these women, but the author makes them real to me, and I can see both the good and bad of their experience. It is an absolutely fascinating portrait, and I am glad that I stumbled upon it at the library.

Highly recommended, if you enjoy a glimpse into how "other people" think and behave.

14 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Too much to the extreme, January 21, 2000

By 

Rashid - See all my reviews

This review is from: Behind the Veil in Arabia: Women in Oman (Paperback)

The reader of this book and the reader of Women and Community in Oman (Christine Eickelman) will find that Behind the Veil in Arabia is moslty focused on the negative aspects of the local community in away that gives the reader a negative impression of the simple life of the villagers. These negative aspects might not be fully comprehended by a westerner who paid a few visits to that village and so the visitor must realize the full picture and be fair before you judgement of what he or she thinks is negative. The reality is there is no community that is sin free, however, above all if they do not live up with a certain values that in general must be fair and tolerable by all members, then the community will not survive at all. In this book there are indeed few pictures (or at least illustrations) to prove the observations mentioned in the book as well. I suggest that the reader go on and get Women and Community in Oman by Christine Eickelman available from Amazon.com and compare.