Gender Politics In Sudan: Islamism, Socialism, And The State / Edition 1

by Sondra Hale

Overview

Focusing on the relationship between gender and the state in the construction national identity politics in twentieth-century northern Sudan, the author investigates the mechanisms that the state and political and religious interest groups employ for achieving political and cultural hegemony. Hale argues that such a process involves the transformation of culture through the involvement of women in both left-wing and Islamist revolutionary movements. In drawing parallels between the gender ideology of secular and religious organizations in Sudan, Hale analyzes male positioning of women within the culture to serve the movement. Using data from fieldwork conducted between 1961 and 1988, she investigates the conditions under which women’s culture can be active, generating positive expressions of resistance and transformation. Hale argues that in northern Sudan women may be using Islam to construct their own identities and improve their situation. Nevertheless, she raises questions about the barriers that women may face now that the Islamic state is achieving hegemony, and discusses limits of identity politics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780813333700
Publisher:	Westview Press
Publication date:	08/01/1997
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	312
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)
Lexile:	1460L (what's this?)

About the Author

Sondra Hale is adjunct associate professor in anthropology and women's studies at the University of California at Los Angeles.

Table of Contents

List of tables — Acknowledgments — Part One – Introduction — Part Two – Background to Sudan and Sudanese Women — Part Three – Two Case Studies — Glossary — References — Index — About the Book and Author.

Editorial Reviews

Hale (anthropology and women's studies, U. of California-Los Angeles) draws on data from fieldwork between 1961 and 1988 to examine how both state and religious institutions in Sudan strive for political and cultural hegemony by involving women in left- wing and Islamist revolutionary movements. She also shows how women's culture can actively generate positive expressions of resistance and transformation, but doubts their success against the rapidly consolidating state. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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