Performing Islam

Gender and Ritual in Iran
Erscheinungsjahr 2006
ISBN: 978-90-04-15295-3
Verlag: Brill

Buch, Englisch, Band 4, 302 Seiten, Format (B × H): 165 mm x 239 mm, Gewicht: 581 g

Reihe: Women and Gender: The Middle East and the Islamic World

Performing Islam takes as its main focus the rich array of ceremonial activities that shape and inform the lives of circles of women in south Tehran. Based on anthropological fieldwork, the book describes and analyses rituals that mark religious anniversaries and life course events in Iran today. Arguing that the ritual performances are powerful forums where ideas develop, and where rules, symbols and discourses are contested, this book discusses the values and beliefs underpinning gender constructions in a rapidly changing and complex society. The ambiguous metaphorical language of the rituals is examined, revealing how gender ideologies are projected and renewed, but also challenged, destabilized and ridiculed. Thus the rituals provide possibilities for self-expression, innovation and incremental change. This study goes beyond questions of meaning and culture to interrogate the dynamics of gender performance as products of power and politics.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Torab, Azam

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Moderne Philosophische Disziplinen Philosophische Anthropologie
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Soziale Gruppen/Soziale Themen Gender Studies, Geschlechtersoziologie
• Geisteswissenschaften Islam & Islamische Studien Islam & Islamische Studien

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Preface
Acknowledgements
Notes on Language
Calendars

Introduction
Blurring Boundaries
Women’s Caring Labour
A Well-Adjusted Misfit
The Morality of Self-Interested Exchange
Rites of Masculinity
Girls’ ‘Initiation’ Ritual
Reversal and Licence
The Head and Heart Tangle
Conclusion

Glossary
References
Author Index
Subject Index

Über Autor(innen)

Azam Torab, Ph.D. (1998) in Social Anthropology, Universityof London. Following studies in Basel and London,she was elected into a Research Fellowship at Clare Hall, University of Cambridge (1999-2004) and since 1998 has held a Research Associateship at SOAS in the Department of Social Anthropology at University of London.