One of the most controversial and emotionally charged aspects of the Muslim religious resurgence has been its effect on women in Muslim societies. The essays collected in this book place the issue in its historical context and offer case studies of Muslim societies from North Africa to Southeast Asia. The volume as a whole militates against the stereotype of Muslim women as repressed, passive, and without initiative, while acknowledging the very real obstacles to women's initiatives in most of these societies. The focus on the Arab world, Iran and Pakistan reflects the current centres of Islamic ideological formulation, while the inclusion of the Philippines is a welcome addition.