So many book covers with ladies in Hijab.
How do you see this portrayal?
What comes to your mind about the book featuring ‘Hijabi woman’ on its cover? I mean what you perceive about the contents of that book by just looking at the cover?
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Re: Portrayal of Islam through Hijabi Women
Pearl in a shell..a woman in perda...definitely it would be about hijab thats necessary for woman...
Re: Portrayal of Islam through Hijabi Women
What about behind the Burqa?
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Personally, I find it terribly annoying and stereotypical when a book has a hijabi (or niqaabi) lady on the cover as most books that do this are usually sad or tragic stories that usually portray the women as helpless victims oppressed by evil abusive Muslim men and paint the hijab (and Islam in general) in quite a negative light. I've read some of the books in that picture and at least 4 of them fall into this category: Zoya's Story, My Forbidden Face, Price of Honor and Sold. I'm not saying that terrible things don't happen in some parts of the world or that these stories shouldn't be told (as they definitely should) but when every book with a picture of a lady in a burqa or niqaab is a tragedy and paints a negative picture, it gets rather tiresome.
Re: Portrayal of Islam through Hijabi Women
Personally, I find it terribly annoying and stereotypical when a book has a hijabi (or niqaabi) lady on the cover as most books that do this are usually sad or tragic stories that usually portray the women as helpless victims oppressed by evil abusive Muslim men and paint the hijab (and Islam in general) in quite a negative light. I've read some of the books in that picture and at least 4 of them fall into this category: Zoya's Story, My Forbidden Face, Price of Honor and Sold. I'm not saying that terrible things don't happen in some parts of the world or that these stories shouldn't be told (as they definitely should) but when every book with a picture of a lady in a burqa or niqaab is a tragic and paints a negative picture, it gets rather tiresome.
Do you feel the same when you see women in Burqa (Niqaab) in movies, news or in real life?
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^Yes, because most of these portrayals are quite generalising and heavy-handed and they often don't provide context for the events being described or further examination of the culture being discussed. Most describe quite extreme stories that, although most certainly happen and must be told, are extreme nonetheless and not as commonplace as they're made to appear. The best example I can think of to illustrate this is *Zoya's Story, *which described a girl named Zoya's experience in Afghanistan following the arrival of the Taliban. I was in high school when the book was first published and we read it for a course. I may have said so already in the buzkashi thread but I'm Afghani and throughout the term, I got so bloody tired of explaining the following to classmates and various others:
-NO, my father is not a wife beater with 4 wives.
-NO, my parents do not plan to marry me off to an old man at 16.
-NO, I do not wear the burqa and neither does anyone in my family.
-NO, my parents will not kill me for talking to a male classmate.
-YES, my mother can read and write, holds a university degree and works outside the home.
-YES, I'm expected to finish high school and go to Uni.
-YES, I'm allowed to go out without an escort.
-YES, I'm allowed to have friends.
I understand that the book was attempting to describe the damage caused by the Taliban and what Afghanistan became after the they took over but it never pointed out that not everyone agreed with their ideology (and that most people actually DID NOT) and that many people did attempt to resist (such as the protagonist's family) and instead painted them like helpless victims. It didn't even do justice to the protagonist's story, which was quite interesting and deserved a better telling. It made it seem as if every Afghani family is as extreme and accepting of the Taliban as some of the people mentioned in the book.
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These types of books were quite in fashion in the last post 9/11 decade, I would like to think that the trend of writing extremely depressing and one dimensiona stories to describe the lives of Muslim women from so called Islamic countries is finally dying.
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What comes to your mind about the book featuring 'Hijabi woman' on its cover? I mean what you perceive about the contents of that book by just looking at the cover?
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I know you are not meant to judge a book by it's cover, but I personally don't go for books where the cover gives away the entire story. If you see a book with a veiled woman on it's cover and the character is based in Saudi Arabia or Afghanistan, chances are the book will be about a repressed, helpless woman victim of extreme physical and mental abuse who really has no way of escaping her man inflicted miseries and pain. As the poster above me quite rightly said that, indeed these things do happen in the countries where the characters are based and stories should be told , but often such types of books are quite badly written in a very generalising manner. It is like the authors purposely try to add shock value to the content in a most crude and primitive way to have the reader terrified and addicted.
I have read fair share of semi non fiction books on the horrors of Muslim woman's struggle and their bleak, abuse ridden lives based in war torn countries like Afghanistan, Somalia etc, in my school days. Even though the books I read were quite good (none of them are featured in the picture posted in OP) but I've never gone back to reading such books. Either those books have gone out of fashion or my taste in reading has changed.
I am more into proper academic books that deal with women's issues on global scale.
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Apart from these fiction books, I'm unable to understand obsession of western writers to portray Burqa as a symbol of oppression. Even in 'I'm Malala', Lamb expressed these views.
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Having said all of the above, I think Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini was a good book, but what's really important to note is that for once the publishing house didn't go for an all in your face, stereotypical image of a vield woman as a cover. The original image of Hosseini's book which features a seemingly young female dressed in a tribal a attire, walking on a rocky hill, in an incredibly dry and sunny setting, is such a refreshing departure from what you normally see as covers. She seems to be wearing kitten heels? A very interesting and creative image indeed.
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I think the reason why some of these books are so generalising, sensationalistic, and badly written is that (with non-fiction) they are often ghostwritten by someone other than the person who experienced the events being described. This makes sense as the women whose stories are being told often describe being denied an education and may not have been able to write the book for themselves. The books also, usually, are in a language other than the protagonists native language, making it difficult for them to review the manuscript and suggest editing or changes. While I understand the need for a ghostwriter in these cases, what galls me is that the ghostwriters often write as if they are writing fiction and add additional drama to the account (as if it were necessary, given the subject matter) rather than telling the women’s stories in a more natural, journalistic manner that is more straightforward.
One book that does not fall into this trap and gets it quite right is Halima Bashir’s Tears of the Desert, which describes Bashir’s childhood growing up in Sudan, becoming a doctor and later working as a doctor in a refugee camp in Darfur. Rosalyn Landor, the ghostwriter, tells Bashir’s story in a fluid, straightforward manner without any additional melodrama. She also discusses various positive aspects of Bashir’s upbringing (i.e. a happy childhood, a stable family, her father’s encouragement in her education, etc.) and gives loads of background information about the culture and setting being discussed rather than simply describing the atrocities she witnessed in Darfur as an adult and giving a one dimensional account of gloom, doom, and hopelessness. While the book does describe some horrific events she encountered while working as a doctor in Darfur, it does so with balance and perspective, which is what many books on this subject lack.
Re: Portrayal of Islam through Hijabi Women
My family ladies wear it and some in Western country,so do some of my friends. And its brave how they are willing to do it surrounded by sometimes hostility. But I think a person's actions speak louder than what they're wearing and that's how I see anyone who is wearing it or not wearing it.
I completely agree with shak here. Unfortunately post 911 world has put lot of these things in negative light. And to answer your question what do i think? Well i just see book as a book. Resaon is..i personally do not judge anyone except by their actions.
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That is very true. I wouldn’t surprised if those authors simultaneously talk about 3-4 different life stories and women in one book. It feel as if they are just throwing things into the mix. It is not like the women they interview from warn torn Afghanistan chase these Western writers up and sue them for fabricating their life.
Interesting that you mentioned the book with sesert in it’s title, coincidentally, my favourite book on Muslim women’s issue from war-torn country is called Desert Flower by Waris Dirie and Cathleen Miller. First of all, I appreciate the fact that original protagonist is honest enough to admit that the book is co-written.
I read this book when I was about 14/15, it is the very first book I’ve read on women’s issue, and I loved it. Such a brilliant cover, just by looking at the cover, I don’t think anyone can guess that the book talks about female circumcision, child marriages and a case of attempted rape in a Muslim country against a Muslim woman. The fact the orginal author is a model and UN’s Ambassador for the elimination of Female Genital Mutilation means she had to emply certain level of responsibility and accountability in her writing. She couldn’t just write handful of sensationalist monologues and call it ‘book’ about her life. I really liked how she talked about her life in such clear and dignified manner was. It was an impressive read. I don’t read these kinds oif books anymore but the fact I still remember this book, says a lot about its impact on me.
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Re: Portrayal of Islam through Hijabi Women
^I too like Waris Dirie's Desert Flower for the exact reasons you mentioned. Interestingly, it's one of three books by her. Have you read the other two: Desert Children and Desert Dawn? I've not yet read Desert Dawn but I found Desert Children quite interesting. It goes into further detail about her work for the elimination of FGM (and does so without being sensationalistic).
