Presentation: Dr. Umme Al-wazedi, "Veil Obsessed"

This presentation will focus on Dr. Umme Al-wazedi's new edited volume, titled "Veil Obsessed: Representations in Literature, Art, and Media." Provost Dianna Shandy will lead the discussion by asking questions for Dr. Al-wazedi. There will also be time for general Q&A. 

About the book

Discussions surrounding the veil often run along essentialist and ahistorical lines, associating Islam with oppression, shame and honor. Contributing to these stereotypes, the media in both the East and the West obsessively condemn or valorize practices of veiling. There are inherent tensions among the ideas concerning the power of hijab. Does wearing it give agency to women or does it represent oppression, thereby creating and perpetuating stereotypes? How an individual sees their relationship with the self, family and community, and the nation-state dictates their choice of whether to wear the veil. In exploring the wide range of portrayals, the editors pose critical questions about perceptions of the veil and the dangers of ignoring its multiplicity. Veil Obsessed presents a range of essays to complicate and challenge the dialogue around the veil, exploring its symbolic, religious, and cultural significance. Scholars from a variety of fields analyze and critique the use of the veil in literature, film, television, and the fine arts.