Muslim Women Reformers: Inspiring Voices Against Oppression Illustrated Edition

by Ida Lichter (Author)

8 ratings

ISBN-13: 978-1591027164

ISBN-10: 1591027160

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In a world where the strident demands of Islamic extremists capture the media's attention, the courageous protests of Muslim reformers barely receive any notice. These include a surprising number of women who are prepared to challenge institutionalized persecution, risking derision, arrest, physical harm, and even death.In this inspiring compilation of Muslim women's stories from around the world, the voices of these long-oppressed women ring loud and clear as they question ideology and culture, patriarchal and religious beliefs, and demand the social and political rights women lack in many Muslim countries. The reformers speak out with passion, humanity, and sometimes humor in these compact and often poignant biographies, bringing alive the harsh realities for women in many parts of the world. By surveying a wide range of Muslim reformers, not only in the Middle East but also in Europe and North America, author Ida Lichter uncovers some significant emerging trends. For example, she notes that the majority of Muslim feminists would like to see reform contained within Islam. Many criticize their patriarchal culture for suppressing egalitarian views that they believe the Koran expresses and so they advocate a reinterpretation of the holy text. Some demand changes to discriminatory Sharia-based laws. Others campaign openly for political and educational reforms.Complete with a glossary and a list of helpful Web sites, this vibrant anthology makes use of reliable translations from original languages to demonstrate the groundswell of grassroots change that promises eventually to bring even the most conservative sectors of Islam into the twenty-first century.

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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ida Lichter, MD, is a psychiatrist who lives in Sydney, Australia.

Product details

Publisher : Prometheus; Illustrated edition (May 26, 2009)
Language : English
Hardcover : 513 pages
ISBN-10 : 1591027160
ISBN-13 : 978-1591027164
Item Weight : 1.8 pounds
Dimensions : 6.35 x 1.4 x 9.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,454,272 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #736 in Civil Rights
- #2,699 in Middle Eastern Politics
- #2,920 in Gender Studies (Books)

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Amy

An Insightful Portrait of Woman's Rights

Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2010

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Dr. Ida Lichter's book Muslim Women Reformers: Inspiring Voices Against Oppression is an extraodinary portrait of Muslim women around the globe and their courageous and chilling experiences. Writing with powerful elegance, she provides each story with a powerful and thought-provoking message. Capturing the heroic actions of each of the women profiled with an in-depth analysis of their day-to-day challenges, Dr. Lichter gives voice to their spirit with sensitivity, compassion and insight.
Take, for instance, Barakzai from Afghanistan who successfully campaigned for a seat in Parliament. Or Yanar Mohammed who cofounded the Organization of Women's Freedom in Iraq and has contributed to speaking up for women's rights and equality. Rania Al-Baz in Saudi Arabia worked to bring national attention to battered Saudi women after her own husband beat her unconscious following an argument. Each of the stories contained in this book provide insight into a better understanding of their world.
I loved this authentic and scholarly book. Each struggle captivated, intrigued, horrified, amazed and ultimately gave me a sense of hope for equal rights for all women. Dr. Lichter humanized their struggles with frankness and dignity. This is a must read for everyone who is interested in human rights, particularly those women who risked their own lives to speak out for freedom, justice and equality.

9 people found this helpful

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Anni Lipper

A must read for those looking into the future

Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2009

Verified Purchase

Muslim Women Reformers: Inspiring Voices Against Oppression

I recommend that all who recognize the probability of half the world's population being Muslim in the next 25 years read "Muslim Women Reformers: Inspiring Voices Agains Oppression" by Dr. Ida Lichter.

It is generally accepted that a positive attitudinal change is only possible and will only occur in the whole of the Muslim population if girls and women are educated. However, as this book so clearly describes, there are major political, cultural and economic issues which will have to be overcome to enable the changes required to lessen the risk of global chaos.

The book is instructive as to the severity of the problems being addressed by a few dedicated and very brave women. These remarkable women, mostly unknown in the developed societies, have suffered greatly and risked even worse punishment by a seemingly intransigent, male dominated, political and social structure.

Dr. Lichter does us all a service by so well highlighting the history and activities of those few women who are sacrificing themselves in the hope of making a positive difference. It is only through the education and empowerment of Muslim women that there is any real hope of cultural rationalization and conflict avoidance.

The unbelievably brave women profiled in this book should be recognized and supported, as they are the only hope for a civilizing of Islamic traditional practices, still widely prevalent.

Arthur Lipper
Del Mar, CA

2 people found this helpful

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K. Marie

Positive portrayals of women but inaccurate information

Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2009

Verified Purchase

While I applaud any literature that recognizes the struggles of women in the Muslim world, I had trouble with this book. I was excited about the title and reviews and book premise when I looked over the book. I ordered it and began to read, what I found disturbed me.

As an American Feminist who used to live in Saudi Arabia I can say without a doubt that the country's treatment of women is deplorable. That the religious police have way to much power and the separation and restrictions placed on women can be downright soul crushing at times. I fully believe this country and many others need change and that there are women and men working to make this happen.

However as a former resident of Saudi I also spotted the exaggerations and inaccuracies in this book. Starting with the declaration that all women are required to wear Niqab, this is simply not true. As an American I wore conservative loose clothing and occasionally an abbaya but I was not required to cover either my hair or face. Some Saudi women wore niqab, some covered even their eyes others were bare faced (though their hair was covered). Also the claims that women are relegated to poorer quality eating areas is also false. Women and families (this included young men and men married to the adult women with them) were required to sit in the "family" section, while single adult men were required to sit in the "mens" section. The family sections were significantly nicer than the "men's" section. I know because I peeked.

I recognize that the conditions described may be true in some areas of the country but they certainly are not universal or really even that common (I've been to several parts of the country and have friends in many others).

So this misrepresentation in this book causes me to ask where the author got her information. I'm not sure how I can read this book with any degree of faith, given what I already know to be untrue. Do these countries need change? Absolutely. But misrepresenting the situation is not the best way to start. No one in these countries will take the need for change seriously if they see straight away that those making the arguments are basing their claims on false information. This may do even more harm than good.

I also had an American friend who lived in Yemen check the Yemen section. She found the same thing to be true as I did for the Saudi section. For the record, she absolutely hated living in Yemen as a woman and was thrilled when it was finally time to leave.

This book has a nice premise, but it's exaggerations and inaccuracies make it impossible to read with any degree of faith that other claims are accurately represented.

15 people found this helpful

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