The Subject of Freedom: Week 7: Grace Balmet

     This work shows the vast need to undermine 'Western' beliefs on the reality of Muslim feminisms as a conglomerate institution. One of the strongest links to in-class discussion topics that I noticed in this piece was the idea of 'white saviorism'- from the very beginning of the book, the agenda is clear: to clarify the norms on outside views into the existing and complex world of Islam as a whole. 

     It's a quite simple viewpoint: speculation is a killer of understanding. A very poignant example of this point is the idea of female modesty. The idea of the veil is one that is deeply engrained into the culture of modesty, but is widely speculated as a sign of female subjection to male dominance. All in all, this work shows the utter need to shirk such ideals [this being the shining example in my opinion], and cease the 'understanding' that Western ideology is the correct view. It is very interesting to view this as the universal cry for understanding-- and this is a point that is needed. The speculation shows a need for not understanding, but, the cry for an almost air of ignorance. Basically, it is the vast need for the West to cease their need to explore [dominate] other cultures in order to save them. It is fascinating to see this actualized in words by a Muslim feminist, but more importantly, this is the work of an intelligent woman who shows the reality of the lack of need for the West to come in with superior ANYTHINGS in this realm. 

Works Cited

Mahmood, Saba. 2005."The Subject of Freedom" in Politics of Piety: The Islamic Revival and the Feminist Subject. New Jersey: Princeton University Press