Ghada Talhami is D. K. Pearsons Professor of Politics, emerita, at Lake Forest College. She is the past editor of Arab Studies Quarterly and currently serves on the board of editors of the same journal as well as Muslim World. She is the author of several books, including The Mobilization of Muslim Women in Egypt (1996) and Palestine in the Egyptian Press (2007).
Talhami’s (politics, emerita, Lake Forest College, IL; The
Mobilization of Muslim Women in Egypt) concise book begins with an
excellent chronology of the significant political, social, and
cultural events that have affected the lives of women in the
region, and follows with an introduction that provides a brief but
rich history of the contributions of women in the Middle East and
North Africa, again from political, social, and cultural
viewpoints. Researchers will find entries about women and men who
were or are activists, journalists, poets, novelists, and political
leaders whose work helped improve the status of area women. In
addition to the entries about individuals, numerous entries cover
nongovernmental organizations, marriage, education, feminist
organizations, movements, and religious laws. The extensive
bibliography, arranged by topic, includes films and works in
Arabic. VERDICT Students and researchers can use this dictionary as
a starting point for their research, making it a solid addition to
academic reference collections.
*Library Journal*
This concise and accessible work is quite timely—interest in Middle
Eastern and Islamic history and politics has never been stronger,
and this book meets the information needs of students and faculty
working in these areas but also the information needs of those
interested in the social, political, economic, and ideological
roles of women in these societies. Both students and the general
reader will find this an accessible and timeless dictionary.
Recommended for academic and public libraries.
*Booklist*
Focusing on women in North Africa and the Middle East, this
dictionary provides an excellent introduction to events, issues,
organizations, concepts, and people, from ancient times to the
present day. Talhami (emer., Lake Forest College) knows her topic,
and her well-written entries provide a gateway to understanding
complex issues, especially for students new to the field. For
example, her entry on "Urf Marriage" explains not only this
controversial institution itself but also its historical origins
and contemporary contexts. Entries are noteworthy for their
country-specific perspective, which provides an alternative to the
monolithic perspective often presented on women in the Middle East.
The dictionary features over 400 alphabetically organized entries
with useful cross-references.. Talhami also includes a chronology
and an excellent bibliography with a useful introductory essay.
Organized by time period and by resource type, this bibliography is
a great starting point for anyone looking for classic texts on
issues related to women and the Middle East and North Africa.
Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates through
graduate students; general readers
*CHOICE*
 |
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
