A Different Cloth

This concise and accessible essay offers the unique perspective that it is possible to recognize the empowering role religion may have in a woman's life and its historical patriarchal structure. Dania Suleman has always believed that freedom of religion is compatible with women's rights because that view honours the narratives and agency of women who feel compelled to live according to their faith while upholding the tenets of feminism. Dania skillfully weaves together legal analysis, feminist theology and sociological studies. She draws on the work of post-colonial feminist theologians who explore how religious texts have been revised and reinterpreted to be more inclusive of women. With her legal background she analyses legal challenges and the necessary balance between protecting women's rights and religious freedom. She shows the positive impact of faith-based communities within western societies, especially the social integration of immigrant communities that work to fight biases and prejudices against religious minorities and religious women. Often the women at the heart of this debate are absent from public discussions so Dania has placed religious women front and center. Having lived in a political context where women like her were consistently given a back seat, she offers a different point of view on the ways feminism and faith can be reconciled. This book legitimizes women's autonomy and emancipation while working to heal social divides. Originally published in French by ditions du Remue-Menage.