Description
Book SynopsisSusan Hirsch's observations of Islamic courts uncover how Muslim women actively use legal processes to transform their domestic lives. This achieves victories on some fronts, but also reinforces their image as subordinate to men through the speech they produce in court.
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction 1: Legal Processes and the Discursive Construction of Gender 2: Representations of Swahili Society 3: Analyzing Talk about Trouble 4: The Discourses of Marital Disputing 5: Marital Disputing in Kadhi's Courts 6: Indexing Gender: Initial Courtroom Narratives 7: Constructing Audience: Interaction in Cases and Mediations 8: Portraying Gendered Speakers: Reported Conversations 9: Pronouncing and Persevering: Ideology and Metalinguistics in Disputes Conclusion App. A: Glossary App. B: Features of Transcription App. C: Case Summaries App. D: Kiswahili Texts Notes References Index