Psychosocial Aspects of Niqab Wearing Religion, Nationalism and Identity in Bosnia and Herzegovina

by Bosankic, Nina

• ISBN13: 9781137431608
• ISBN10: 1137431601
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2014-11-21
• Publisher: Palgrave Pivot

Summary

The question of why women choose to wear the niqab or full face veil is controversial both within and outside of Islam. The veil itself is often sensationalised as a symbol of Islamic fundamentalism or female submission. Psychosocial aspects of niqab wearing focuses on the women who make the decision to adopt the niqab, and their individual reasons for doing so. Nina Bosankic interviewed young Muslim women, from a variety of backgrounds in post-conflict Bosnia and Herzegovina, to uncover the social and psychological factors influencing their choice. Using grounded theory methodology, she identifies common themes regardless of background, each of which relate to seeking the means to affirm a new identity, specifically using the niqab as an instrument for the construction of the believer at a higher level of spiritual identity

Author Biography

Nina Bosankic is assistant professor of Psychology at the International University of Sarajevo. She has vast experience from working in the NGO sector prior to joining academia where she has published one book and several articles on social identity, forced migrations, religious behaviour and gender.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
List of figures
Preface
1. Introduction
2. Determinants of religious behavior
Gender and religious behavior
Gender and fundamentalism
3. Sharia practice of clothing: debates and controversies
Veilploitation
Origin
Contemporary debates and controversies
Clothing practice in Bosnia and Herzegovina
4. Nationalism, gender and religion in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Woman in fundamentalist Islam in Bosnia and Herzegovina
5. To veil or not to veil: a decision making process
Basic Social Psychological Process (BSPP): seeking the means to affirm the new religious identity
- Category I
- Category II
- Category III
- Category IV
- Category v and VI
6. Conclusion
Methodological appendix
Glossary
Index
References