Today's picture is one of victory, for today is the day Michelle's long battle with Major Honors finally came to an end.
This afternoon, Michelle brilliantly defended her paper "Engaging with Muslim Women in Purdah: A Christian Response to the Visual and Spatial Segregation of Women across the Muslim World."
Now, some of you may be wondering what in the world purdah is. Well, fortunately for you, I have been living with Michelle all year, so I feel (rather less) qualified (than Michelle) to tell you all about it.
Purdah essentially means the separation of women from men. It can take many forms, from simple veiling (of which there are also many kinds) to women not being allowed in the same room as male non-family visitors. It has been traditionally linked to practices of Islam, but the actual origins of the practice have roots both in secular and religious spheres (see Michelle for more on that one). Many countries within the Muslim world, particularly in the Indian sub-continent, practice some form of purdah.
Michelle's goal in the paper was to defend a Christian theology of purdah, that is to see how Muslim Background Believers (MBBs) could continue to uphold the practice of purdah when socially necessary. Her method to do so was three-fold: to explain the history of purdah (see above), to explore the why/how/to what end Christians should minister to Muslim women in purdah, and to present a case study of purdah based on her time in Pakistan.
Her conclusion (to put it simply) is that yes, MBBs can continue to practice purdah but it must be a Christian-informed purdah. That is, one in which the Christian call for equality between the sexes is being pursued, but in a way that is edifying to society around them.
What does this Christian theology of purdah look like? Well, according to Michelle, the first step toward an equality that is not hypocritical must be through the family, because the family is the driving force of most (if not all) Muslim societies. While respecting the separation of women from greater male society, which is done to uphold many cultural values, families can exhibit a greater measure of equality by sitting together outside of the home, at churches or worship gatherings, for example. In this way, MBBs demonstrate their respect for culture in which the meeting of men and women can be considered scandalous, while remaining true to their Christian vision of equality.
Nearly two years ago, Michelle felt the Lord calling her to be a full-time missionary in Pakistan. She spent a month this past summer teaching English in a Christian school there and is hoping to return in the next few years after she receives training in linguistics(ish...).
Please join me in praying for safety and strength for this wonderful woman.
Now, some of you may be wondering what in the world purdah is. Well, fortunately for you, I have been living with Michelle all year, so I feel (rather less) qualified (than Michelle) to tell you all about it.
Purdah essentially means the separation of women from men. It can take many forms, from simple veiling (of which there are also many kinds) to women not being allowed in the same room as male non-family visitors. It has been traditionally linked to practices of Islam, but the actual origins of the practice have roots both in secular and religious spheres (see Michelle for more on that one). Many countries within the Muslim world, particularly in the Indian sub-continent, practice some form of purdah.
Michelle's goal in the paper was to defend a Christian theology of purdah, that is to see how Muslim Background Believers (MBBs) could continue to uphold the practice of purdah when socially necessary. Her method to do so was three-fold: to explain the history of purdah (see above), to explore the why/how/to what end Christians should minister to Muslim women in purdah, and to present a case study of purdah based on her time in Pakistan.
Her conclusion (to put it simply) is that yes, MBBs can continue to practice purdah but it must be a Christian-informed purdah. That is, one in which the Christian call for equality between the sexes is being pursued, but in a way that is edifying to society around them.
What does this Christian theology of purdah look like? Well, according to Michelle, the first step toward an equality that is not hypocritical must be through the family, because the family is the driving force of most (if not all) Muslim societies. While respecting the separation of women from greater male society, which is done to uphold many cultural values, families can exhibit a greater measure of equality by sitting together outside of the home, at churches or worship gatherings, for example. In this way, MBBs demonstrate their respect for culture in which the meeting of men and women can be considered scandalous, while remaining true to their Christian vision of equality.
Nearly two years ago, Michelle felt the Lord calling her to be a full-time missionary in Pakistan. She spent a month this past summer teaching English in a Christian school there and is hoping to return in the next few years after she receives training in linguistics(ish...).
Please join me in praying for safety and strength for this wonderful woman.
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| Good thing we don't have instituted purdah here - think of how many people would miss out of this beautiful roommate of mine! |
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