Choice Review

"Velvet jihad" refers to the peaceful efforts of Muslim women to resist and subvert Islamic fundamentalism and effect a positive change in their lives. Aiming to present "the reality rather than the myth of today's Muslim woman" and counter the simplistic and distorted stereotypes of Muslim women in the West, Shirazi, an Iranian American academic (Univ. of Texas), discusses the different strategies that Muslim women employ to resist and undercut the oppressive patriarchal systems that are often disguised as "authentic" religious obligations and traditions. She examines key beliefs and practices that impinge on the rights of Muslim women and discusses how these are subverted today by the women themselves as they struggle to undermine historical patriarchal bias without risking a backlash, an increasingly likely occurrence given the current political ascendancy of Muslim fundamentalists. Chapters focus on such topics as concepts of honor and shame, virginity, veiling, sexual taboos, and gender discrimination and segregation, among others. Of special interest is Shirazi's discussion of the dual role of the Internet, which is extensively used by both the Muslim reformists and the fundamentalists to propagate their opposing messages and rally supporters. Summing Up: Recommended. All levels/libraries. A. Rassam emerita, CUNY Queens College