Do Muslim Women Need Saving? by Lila Abu-Lughod

Abu-Lughod gives an interesting and nuanced perspective of Muslim Women that is refreshing and easy to read. Abu-Lughod emphasizes the importance of correcting this narrative to give agency back to Muslim women.Ī must read. If only Muslim women are viewed as in need of saving it implies the religion they are choosing to follow is associated with oppression. In addition, savior language implies that Westerners are already saved and that they are distinct from the societies they seek to save. Instead of promoting a woman's ability to choose and be autonomous, governments are taking away their ability to do so. The ideas of “feminism” and most often the views associated with it to be western concepts that are rooted to secularist ideals. Do Muslim Women Need Saving challenges current narratives about Muslim women and gives its audience the ability to learn from the testimonies of these women.Ību-Lughod warns that, “we should be vigilant about the rhetoric of saving others because of what it betrays about our attitudes.” Abu-Lughod believes that by stating women “need saving” you are implying that in some way they are less than you, or inferior.

The book discusses the concept of feminism and how governments continually use what Abu-Lughod calls savior language to justify involvement in Middle Eastern nations.

Named a Foreign Affairs Best Book of the Year on the Middle East, Lila Abu-Lughod writes about the way Muslim women are characterized in the Middle East by western countries.

Do Muslim Women Need Saving? by Lila Abu-Lughod