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excerpts from "Beyond the Veil:

Male-Female Dynamics in Modern Muslim Society

"The veil is not a piece of cloth, but something that hides and reveals at the same time. It is a symbol, and like all symbols it carries multiple meanings."
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"The sexual division of labor in Islamic societies has resulted in the exclusion of women from the public sphere, and their confinement to the private realm. This has been justified by the notion of the 'protective veil,' which has been used to keep women hidden away from the gaze of men."
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"The traditional view of women in Islamic societies is based on the idea that women are weak and need to be protected. This view is deeply ingrained in the culture, and has resulted in the segregation of women from men in many areas of life."
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"The Qur'an does not prescribe the veil as a requirement for Muslim women. Rather, it emphasizes the importance of modesty and decency for both men and women."
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"The veil has been used as a tool of oppression by men who seek to maintain their power over women. By controlling women's access to the public sphere, men are able to maintain their dominance in society."
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"The struggle for women's rights in Islamic societies is not a struggle against Islam itself, but against the patriarchal interpretations of Islam that have been used to justify women's oppression."