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Drawing on interviews and fieldwork in Kuwait and throughout the Arabian Peninsula, this book explores what cultural elites in the Arab Gulf region have to say about women´s political and cultural rights and how their faith is or is not related to their politics.

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Introduction 1. Western Feminism Has Not Taken Root in Muslim Hearts and Minds 2. Islamists are Winning Elections 3. Veiled Women are Leading 4. Men are Enabling Islamic Feminism 5. Arab Youth are Both Modern and Traditional Conclusion: Legitimate Authorities in Balance Appendix I: ISAS Methodology Appendix II: Select Responses to Interview Questions

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"Alessandra L. González´s book focuses on the emergence and development of Islamic feminism in Kuwait. ... The book is well written and accessible. Initially, it is aimed at scholars and students of Middle Eastern Studies. Above all, it is a noteworthy contribution to women´s strategies in negotiating the political sphere, and it could also benefit readers who are interested in gender issues in developing countries." (Abdessamad Belhaj, Journal of Church and State, Vol. 57, Autumn, 2015)

"Basing her book on interviews and a survey of over one thousand Kuwaiti college students conducted in 2008, the author reveals the complexities and paradoxes inherent in the relationship between gender, religion, and social traditions in a Muslim society. What is clear is that activism on behalf of women´s rights can only succeed if viewed as "legitimate" in the context of religious authority, community norms, and the political framework. Muslim women are seeking their own path to improving their status, one that "fills a niche that Western, individualistic, and secular-based feminism could not reach in traditional, majority Muslim societies . . . Recommended." - Choice

"A brilliant work on a far too neglected topic - one of increasing importance." - Rodney Stark, author of America´s Blessings (2012) and The Rise of Christianity (1996)

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Alessandra L. González is a research fellow at the Institute for the Studies of Religion at Baylor University.

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