Analysis Of Shelina Janmohamed's 'Love In A Headscarf'

Islam and feminism are two of the main issues that are often raised and debated in intellectual discourses when it comes to Islam. According to the Free Dictionary (n.d.), feminism is defined as the belief in or advocacy of women’s social, political and economic rights, especially those that surround the equality of the sexes. The 21st century feminism is considered as radical feminism as it views patriarchy as the cause of oppression on women. Moreover, it also opposes the existing social and political organization as the system is based on the patriarchal system which treats men as a privilege group. For example, they critic institutions that downgrade the status as women such as religion and government, oppose marriage as they believe that

Shelina is raised and born in London and she begins wearing hijab at an early age and continues to wear it while pursuing her ideal career. Following the 9/11 incident, she still chooses to wear hijab despite the sceptical look thrown at Muslim women in general, including her (Hasan, 2016). This memoir also highlights several issues that are faced by Muslim women in real life and how Shelina, as a contemporary and modern Muslim woman deals with the issues in Islamic perspectives. It discloses the gap between the representation and the reality of Muslim women which many do not know, including Muslims themselves. For example, when Shelina’s aunties advise her not to be “too intellectual” after considering to continue her PhD, she counters them by stating that Islam never limits women’s education as it is a part of the religion. She also highlights some of the successful Muslim women who succeeded both as intellectual and as women. For example, Aishah R.A is promised Jannah for the deeds that she has contributed as the wife to Prophet Muhammad s.a.w as well as a hadith