Muslim Women and Misogyny: Myths and Misunderstandings

by Samia Rahman

Muslim women are among the most fetishised and objectified groups in society today. Much is assumed and imagined about their lives, and it is all too easy to succumb to orientalist myths. For too long, Muslim women have been reduced to two-dimensional empowered heroines rejecting patriarchal religious teachings, or victims of a misogyny believed to run deep within Islam. But why is this neatly packaged view so pervasive? Are oppression and subjugation actually so central to Muslim women’s lives? How is this misogyny influenced by white supremacy and Islamophobia? And where do the biggest threats to Muslim women’s freedom and safety really come from? In this bold new book, Samia Rahman explores the relationships between misogyny and Muslim women’s experiences in Britain today, untangling complex issues such as Muslim feminism, representation, toxic masculinity, marriage and sexuality. Based on extensive interviews with both women and men from Islamic communities, she offers a powerful, much-needed response to the misappropriation of female Muslim voices, revealing the many faces of Muslim womanhood within the UK.

Genres: Feminism

260 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 6, 2024

Reviews

[Zainab Bint Younus · Rating 1 out of 5]

Some books are so terrible, but original in their terribleness, that they evoke my wrath in powerful ways.

Others are terrible in their truly dull parroting and repetition of others' works that they get nothing but a dismissive sneer from me.

This book falls under the latter category. Samia Rahman is objectively a poor writer. Her prose is juvenile, her ability to structure a chapter effectively is non-existent, and she simply has zero original thoughts.

For a book published in 2024, this has the quality of an early 2000s book: same old tired nonsense quoting Fatima Mernissi, Amina Wadud, and Leila Ahmed (oh and now Sofia Rehman, who was featured prominently in the first chapter - and about whom I feel more distrusting than ever); throwing out the same rubbish about how hijab isn't actually part of Islam, Muslim women should be able to marry non-Muslim men, blah blah blah. Lots of liberal feminism with "Islam needs to be re-interpreted because traditional scholarship is misogynistic." Literally nothing new.

The only vaguely interesting bits were where she interviewed and quoted real people from the Muslim community (some dodgy folks but some half decent ones); THEIR perspectives were sometimes worth reading.

This book was annoying and DULL. Very lame. Did I mention the terrible writing? Girl tried so hard to sound deep and meaningful but ended up laughable.

[Nathaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprising and mind-changing. I was inspired to read this after someone close to me remarked off hand that “Muslims hate women” and I thought that I didn’t disagree, and that we both must be wrong. I was, and I read Rahman’s brilliant book without getting up once. Highly recommend.

[Linde Van Den Berg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dit barstte echt van nieuwe wijsheden voor leekjes zoals ik. Uitgebreide uitleg met daarin persoonlijke verhalen van mensen uit verschillende communities verweven, fijn en leerzaam boek!!

[Yassmin]

‘Thoughtful, generous, intellectually curious. Avoiding the temptation to arrive at a neat, distilled conclusion, Rahman surveys the landscape of contemporary society and its relationship to the vast and diverse swathe of women clustered under the umbrella of “Muslim”. Full of perspectives, offering gems of insight, and delivered accessibly and comfortingly, as if discussing with a dear friend over a cup of chai.’

[Sophia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second half picked up the pace (massively) & tackled some really interesting topics. The first half was a bit of a slog, a lot of venting (which, understandable), but made for a disorienting, dizzy read. My favourite part was discovering Rumi’s Cave. Otherwise, I generally enjoyed discussions of more controversial & modern topics, and I liked that, for the most part, it largely ignored recycled topics and avoided exploring and combating age-old reactionary rhetoric.

[Ems · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leuk weetje: ik vond dit boek very inspiring terwijl ik in Londen was dus had Samia (de schrijfster) een berichtje gestuurd en dan werd ze mn first friend in Londen🥹💝 ze is very smart very amazing en dit is haar eerste boek ook dus ja slay

[Akura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really appreciate Samia’s perceptive and voice, I can see her really approach politics, life and religion in a fulfilled thoughtful and empathetic way. I definitely can see her influences by black American authors like she states at the end of bell hooks, and honestly I’ve got like two movies and two more books I need to consume now reading this, it’s an endless learning journey that really makes you stop and think to unpack your opinions as a western atheist, and is really helpful for pointing in how I can best give solidarity to Muslim sisters. Liberation looks different for everyone but it is still the same fight 🩷