There was a clear conflict the four women faced, trying to maintain piety, according to the Qur'an. The basic aspects of contemporay life, such as commuting, working and living with unrelated men and even overhearing unethical conversations place these women at odds with their devotion to preserve a pious lifestyle.
Part of this piety requires women to outwardly present themselves in a shy and modest manner (al-haya), or if not naturally shy, they learn to appear shy (istihya). There was a parralell to the veil mentioned here. Like the hijab, it seems uncomfortable and strange to wear it. But over time, one learns to feel shy without it. In regards to the woman who did not feel naturally shy, she did not look upon this as a failure to meet the standards of piety. Instead, she schynchronized her outer behavior and inner motives until a spritual balance was achieved.
I feel what Mahmood is suggesting is the women demonstrated the idea that outside behavior and bodily actions like learned shyness or the hijab, are important fot achieving internal (spiritual) piety. She is critical of femminist framing of this outward behavior as being opressive to women within the mosque movement. She points out that since these acts are both inward and outward, they require constant self-monitoring and demonstrate agency, not subjection.
I feel what Mahmood is suggesting is the women demonstrated the idea that outside behavior and bodily actions like learned shyness or the hijab, are important fot achieving internal (spiritual) piety. She is critical of femminist framing of this outward behavior as being opressive to women within the mosque movement. She points out that since these acts are both inward and outward, they require constant self-monitoring and demonstrate agency, not subjection.
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