Liberalism and the Impact on Religious Identity: Hijab Culture in the American Muslim Context
General Material Designation
[Thesis]
First Statement of Responsibility
Butheina Hamdah
Subsequent Statement of Responsibility
Heberle, Renee
.PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION, ETC
Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.
The University of Toledo
Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.
2017
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
Specific Material Designation and Extent of Item
71
GENERAL NOTES
Text of Note
Committee members: Anjum, Ovamir; Nelson, Samuel
NOTES PERTAINING TO PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION, ETC.
Text of Note
Place of publication: United States, Ann Arbor; ISBN=978-0-438-64950-7
DISSERTATION (THESIS) NOTE
Dissertation or thesis details and type of degree
M.A.
Discipline of degree
Political Science
Body granting the degree
The University of Toledo
Text preceding or following the note
2017
SUMMARY OR ABSTRACT
Text of Note
This paper examines the strategies by which the American Muslim community seeks to normalize its presence within mainstream American culture, and assesses how the social and moral customs of liberal society are internalized and operationalized by American Muslims as orthopraxy, or correct practice and conduct. Recent trends by American Muslims toward "inclusivity," particularly as it requires the prioritization of non-religious, social and/or political understandings of the function and purpose of the hijab, will form the primary focus of this examination. What has become increasingly prevalent is the use of non-religious language pertaining to the hijab, particularly as a religious symbol functioning in and engaging with the public sphere. The central argument will demonstrate exactly how and why the hijab, a key religious symbol, and being a "hijabi," (an identifier of women who wear the hijab) is being liberalized (and consequently secularized). This liberalization and secularization of the hijab result from the increasing appeal by American Muslim public figures to individualism, autonomy, and other liberal sensibilities over established theological edicts when making sense of why they cover and what it means to cover.
TOPICAL NAME USED AS SUBJECT
Womens studies; Islamic Studies; Political science
UNCONTROLLED SUBJECT TERMS
Subject Term
Social sciences;American islam;American muslims;Hijab;Islam;Liberalism