Reading Notes-- April. 22, 1998-- Part Two

Fatima Mernissi

"The Meaning of Spatial Boundaries"

Chapter 8 from Beyond the Veil places Muslim women below that which is male. Spatial Boundaries are imposed to prevent women from violating the male "public" spaces leaving women only to exist in the "private" sphere. What is important to remember is that these boundaries illicit a sense of power in which one sex is ultimately subordinate to the other ( and it is women who are subordinate to men ). Thus, Muslim society is split into two categories: men or umma, symbolizing religion and power; and women representing home and family (138). Spiritually, women cannot directly communicate with Allah and we can only assume that males comprise the majority of believers.

There are several shortcomings of this split dichotomy. Although women are prohibited from the public sphere, they are also seen as secondary beings in the private sphere. They are instructed to obey their male counterparts and can only collaborate on one issue-- procreation (140).

The veil was developed as a way of separating the umma from women. However, it ironically worked to teach women seduction, manipulation and domination as acceptable forms of sexual relations (141). Because women only wear veils when they are entering a public domain, ( male space ) it visibly ( or invisibly ) proves she does not belong.

Women do hold positions outside the home in schools and government offices as typists or secretaries, but they closely mimic the male dominant behaviors present in traditional household environments. Mernissi points out that there is a class conflict between women and men, that is currently creating tension in the scarce job market today (146).

Overall Comments

I was a bit astonished to hear that this is the situation in "modern" Muslim society today. Mernissi paints a much different picture in her other writings we have read this semester. The subordinate position of women in a male public sector seemed to be

eliminated. The veil as well as practices of the harem did seem detrimental for Muslim women judged by Western eyes, but we have read that it actually is more empowering than may appear to be the case. However, when Muslim women are harassed both physically and verbally for refusing to wear a veil in the public or work outside the home, they should be able to do so without the criticism of the population of men.