This book explores the relationship between Islamism, secularism and violence against women in the Middle East and North Africa. Drawing on case studies from across the region, the authors examine the historical, cultural, religious, social, legal and political factors affecting this key issue.

Chapters by established scholars from within and outside the region highlight:

• the interconnections of violence and various sources of power in the Middle East: the state, society, and the family
• conceptions of violence as family and social practice and dominant discourse
• the role of violence as pattern for social structuring in the nation state.

By centring the chapters around these key areas, the volume provides an innovative theoretical and systematic research model for gender and violence in the Middle East and North Africa. Dealing with issues that are not easily accessible in the West, this book underlines the importance of understanding realities and problems relevant to Muslim and Arab societies and discusses possible ways of promoting reforms in the MENA region. As such it will be of great interest to students and scholars of gender studies, sociology, political science and criminal justice.

About the Author

Moha Ennaji is a former Fulbright Scholar and visiting professor at Rutgers University. He is Professor of Linguistics, Culture and Gender Studies, co-editor of Women in the Middle East and North Africa: Agents of Change (2010) and author of a number of books on culture and gender studies in North Africa.

Fatima Sadiqi is Professor of Linguistics and Gender Studies at Fes University. A former Fulbright Scholar and recipient of a Harvard Fellowship, she is the author of a number of books on women in Morocco and co-editor of Women in the Middle East and North Africa: Agents of Change (2010).

Reviews

"Gender and Violence in the Middle East is a significant collection of essays... This work is an articulate collection that probes diverse manifestations of violence and the impact of violence on gender-relations in both the public and intimate spheres. Though the essays focus on issues of violence specific to the Middle East, the essays address universal concerns and offer insights into the process of patriarchal control and consolidation in the face of external aggression or internal dissonance. Consistently argued and clearly written, the book would be useful to both specialists and students alike." - Mahesh Sharma, Panjab University, Chandigarh; Journal of International and Global Studies

"The empirical studies of the volume make a welcome initial connection with theoretical studies in the anthropology of violence. Overall, the volume is an ambitious account of gender violence in the Middle East region. The volume should be of interest to students and scholars of gender studies, sociology, political science, and criminal justice." - Fatemeh Shayan, School of Management, University of Tampere, Finland; Journal of Shi'a Islamic Studies, Winter 2012 Vol. V No. 1

"Gender and Violence in the Middle East is a major contribution to the understanding of women's changing roles in several countries in that area and should be read by students, scholars, and a wider public." - Nikki Keddie, University of California, Los Angeles

Book Information
ISBN 9780415594103
Author Moha Ennaji
Format Hardback
Page Count 304
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 720g