Voices of Resistance: Muslim Women on War, Faith and Sexuality

by Sarah Husain (Editor)

Voices of Resistance is a diverse collection of personal narratives and prose by Muslim women whose experiences and observations are particularly poignant in today's politically and religiously charged environment. The contributors in this anthology hail from Yemen, Iran, Palestine, Afghanistan, Kashmir, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Thailand, China, Canada, and the United States.

Sarah Husain conceptualized this collection as a means of redefining the stereotypical depictions of Muslim women that inundate current western discourse on the Islamic “other.” She seeks to dispel the image of the veil as the age-old symbol of Muslim women's repression and move beyond sterile representations and narrow debates about the contemporary realities of Muslim women. These women engage in discourses concerning their bodies and their communities. A woman mourns the death of a cousin killed in a suicide bombing; a transsexual remembers with fondness the donning of the veil he no longer wears as a Muslim man; a woman confronts sexism and hypocrisy on a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia; and the experience of being judged on the basis of skin color and political and religious affiliation that is far more blatant and ubiquitous since the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Genres: Feminism, Islam, Religion, Nonfiction, Anthologies, Politics, Poetry

284 pages, Paperback

First published May 23, 2006

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

In terms of writing, like most anthologies, it's a bit of hit and miss. There's even more varieties to the roulette this time since it's a mixture across genres, including articles, short essays, autographical sketches, poetry, and artwork. In terms of content, it is very, very educational to read about how intersectionality (race, gender, sexual orientation etc) plays out in another minority group. Cannot honestly say it is a particularly enjoyable read though, given the subject matter. It leaves you in about the same time of mental state as reading a nonfictional book about the Holocaust. Is it a worthwhile read though? Is it worth the time and effort to pick up this book from the library? 100% yes.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great collection of writing and art. Very well organized with the poems breaking up the longer texts from one another along with the artwork. Stunning to read, especially from perspectives we don't normally get.

[Danielle Mintzlaff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book helped me realize why I need to keep fighting Trump.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, a strong though academic look at Muslim resistance through a lens of gender, faith, and sexuality. I found most of it fascinating and well written. However it suffers from the same problem as many anthologies - inconsistency.

Some of the pieces are great and thought provoking, some are just ok, and some are not good. This is a very multi-disciplinary collection, collecting personal stories, poems, art, interviews, and some more scholarly articles. I've read other feminist and Muslim anthologies that I have liked more (in part because I don't really care for poetry) but this is a worthwhile addition to the canon.

[Komal · Rating 3 out of 5]

i connected very well with the short stories. i had a hard time with the poetry because i never really understood how to read poetry properly. if there is a way to read poetry that is. the art was great in this book but i wish it was colored and bigger. definitely a book i'd pick up again, especially all the poetry to read again.

[Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great anthology that has a lot to offer. If you want to read poems, essays, letters, and interviews with and by Arab and Arab American women, totally read this because it'll teach you a lot. It's enjoyable even with touchy subjects.

[Zohra Star · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, okay, so I am in this anthology! Its a fantastic anthology to be a part of and is diverse.

[ayesha akhtar · Rating 1 out of 5]

seemed forced, slightly contrived - i couldn't stand it.

[Sumayyah · Rating 5 out of 5]

*weeping*