Cultures of Southwest Asia
Description
Compare the essays by Suzanne Brenner “Reconstructing Self and Society” and Aihwa Ong “The State versus Islam: Family, women’s bodies and the body politic in Malaysia”.
1) compare their arguments about the role of islam in women’s lives in Malaysia and Indonesia: what do the authors believe are the main reasons for the changes in women’s piety? What is their evidence for their claims?
2) which argument do you find more persuasive? Why? Give reasons.
