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It's Not About the Burqa

Muslim Women on Faith, Feminism, Sexuality and Race

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It's Not About the Burqa

By: Mariam Khan
Narrated by: Mariam Khan, Amna Saleem, Afshan D'souza-Lodhi, Coco Khan, Jamilla Hekmoun, Malia Bouattia, Maya Saroya, Mona Eltahawy, Nadine Aisha Jassat, Nafisa Bakkar, Raifa Rafiq, Saima Mir, Salma El-Wardany, Salma Haidrani
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About this listen

Read by the full cast of authors

When was the last time you heard a Muslim woman speak for herself without a filter?


Shortlisted for Foyles Non-Fiction Book of the Year

'Engrossing . . . fascinating . . . courageous' – Observer

In 2016, Mariam Khan read that David Cameron had linked the radicalization of Muslim men to the ‘traditional submissiveness’ of Muslim women. Mariam felt pretty sure she didn’t know a single Muslim woman who would describe herself that way. Why was she hearing about Muslim women from people who were neither Muslim, nor female?

Years later the state of the national discourse has deteriorated even further, and Muslim women’s voices are still pushed to the fringes – the figures leading the discussion are white and male.

Taking one of the most politicized and misused words associated with Muslim women and Islamophobia, It’s Not About the Burqa is poised to change all that. Here are voices you won’t see represented in the national news headlines: seventeen Muslim women speaking frankly about the hijab and wavering faith, about love and divorce, about feminism, queer identity, sex, and the twin threats of a disapproving community and a racist country. With a mix of British and international women writers, from activist Mona Eltahawy's definition of a revolution to journalist and broadcaster Saima Mir telling the story of her experience of arranged marriage, from author Sufiya Ahmed on her Islamic feminist icon to playwright Afshan D'souza-Lodhi's moving piece about her relationship with her hijab, these essays are funny, warm, sometimes sad, and often angry, and each of them is a passionate declaration calling time on the oppression, the lazy stereotyping, the misogyny and the Islamophobia.

What does it mean, exactly, to be a Muslim woman in the West today? According to the media, it’s all about the burqa.

Here’s what it’s really about.

©Mariam Khan 2019 (P)2019 Macmillan Digital Audio
Gender Studies Literature & Fiction Racism & Discrimination Nonfiction Funny Thought-Provoking
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Critic reviews

An incredibly important collection of essays that explores the pressures of being a Muslim woman today. These essays are passionate, angry, self-effacing, nuanced and utterly compelling in every single way (Nikesh Shukla, editor of The Good Immigrant)
Essential reading for our times. These essays are funny, angry, hopeful, sorrowful and inspired - and will leave you feeling much the same (Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of The Girl of Ink and Stars)
Refreshing, insightful and occasionally raw, It’s Not About the Burqa is a phenomenal collection of essays by a very diverse range of Muslim women. An absolute must read for anyone wanting to better understand the lives and experiences of Muslim Women in the West. (Akeela Ahmed)

What listeners say about It's Not About the Burqa

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A must read!

Fantastic book, such an insightful collection of different muslim women from such a broad spectrum of backgrounds, including engineering and STEM work.

Really informative and helped me to understand the lives of Muslim women and particularly British Muslim women more. Feel much more clued up about Islamnin general and how to tackle social issues in the muslim community

A must read for any femenist or anyone interested in learning about the muslim community, especially from a womens perspective

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Excelente

A must to every person that is willing to leave ignorance and prejudice behind. A door to better understanding a culture and religion that has forever been tormented, feared, discriminated and stigmatized.

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A wonderful selection of personal & vital response

I couldn't stop listening, and finished the book in a sitting.I wish I could gift this book to so many other women, Muslim and non-Muslim. A truly relevant rendition of women's experiences in the Uk today.What an amazing and courageous group of Intelligent, erudite, eloquent women giving voice to the oft misunderstood .

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Eye opening

As a Muslim man in his 20's I know have a better understanding of what Muslim women go through and has increased my understanding about different types of people. My only criticism is that it was too short. An eye opening book like this should be read by all regardless of weather you are muslim or not, or if you are a woman or not.

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Brilliant & educational

All stories are heartfelt, genuine, unique, brilliantly written. Truly learnt so much about Islam and feminism, but most of all, that the two are not incompatible.

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I wish for everyone to read this book

I loved hearing different Muslim women’s voices sharing such interesting perspectives. We have so rarely had the privilege to hear Muslim women speak. This book should be in the school curriculum.

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Stunning

Stunning in its breadth and the space allowed for Muslim women to speak their truth.

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A masterful , eye-opening and essential anthology!

I don't even know where to start with this as I am still in awe of everything I have heard. I have learnt so much about how Western society's gross misunderstanding of Islam and willful ignorance about Islam and the cultures of all the diverse people who identify as Muslim women has led to the demonisation of these women. Through listening to this audiobook I encoumtered some of the fiercest and bravest women I have ever had the pleasure of listening to. I am not Muslim but as a black women of West African heritage there was so much I could identify with. There was also so much I was ignorant of which I am thankful I have learnt. Whether you are Black, Brown, White, Muslim, Christian, non-religious, a woman, a man, non-binary or identify as anything else you need to listen to this book because my gosh there is so much to learn from these powerful stories

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Powerful and inspiring

Thank you to all these women for writing such beautiful essays. I am full of gratitude and admiration.

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Fantastic book which is a must read!!

Great book if you want to learn more about the experiences of Muslim women in the uk. There is a lot of topics mentioned such as marriage and how Muslim women are seen. I love the audio so much I had to buy the book.

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