Table of Contents

Part 1 Veiling in perspective: veiling in perspective; veil in comparative tradition; harem - fact and fantasy; ideological roots and ethnocentrism - orientalism and Christianism. Part 2 The anthropology of dress: dress in theory and ethnography; dress as framework; LIBAS - Arab dress; sacred privacy; veil in social space; veil of masculinity; the veil becomes a movement; Al-Ziyy Al Islami- (the Islamic dress); the sacred in the veil - Hijab. Part 3 The resistance of the veil: the resistance of the veil; contexts of resistance; veiling and feminism.

Promotional Information

Also available in hardback, 9781859739242 GBP60.00 (August, 1999)

About the Author

Fadwa El Guindi is at the University of Southern California.

Reviews

'Her work considerably expands understanding of the complexities of veiling traditions over time and space.' Choice 'Much textual and field research has gone into El Guindi's exploration, and many will find her conclusions persuasive, disputed though they are.' Saudi Aramco World 'This is clearly a book that will be of value for years.' Yemen Update 'El-Guindi's book presents the first systematic and in-depth gendered analysis of the veil.' Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute ' Veil is the most comprehensive and interesting study to date that explores a misunderstood subject involving the lives of more than one billion persons. ... It should be required reading for those studying the Middle East, Islam, dress, gender, political resistance, and anthropology.' American Anthropologist 'Veil is an engrossing, scholarly, and comprehensive analysis of the veil in its many social, historical and political contexts.' Barbara C. Aswad, Wayne State University 'A stimulating and informative analysis of a key aspect of a significant cultural practice.' The Asia Pacific Journal of Anthropology