Anatomy of Muslim Veils: practice, discourse and changing appearance of Indonesian women

The practice of veiling among Indonesian Muslim women has significantly increased since the last few decades. It has been a surprising trend considering the fact that most indigenous women in the archipelago were bare-headed and the political orientation of the country that does not constitutionally declare as an Islamic state. Unfortunately, the explanation of this puzzle has not been sufficiently conducted by scholars, let alone considering the complexity of its development. Partial explication is no longer adequate to understand the inter-connected dimension of veiling, as it intertwines with religious and socio-political aspects of Muslims' lives. This book, therefore, presents an extensive analysis on transformation of veiling among Indonesian Muslims dealing with social, political and economic developments. It provides an account from the perspective of various agents, both elite and non-elite, who have involved in theological and political tensions since NewOrder to Reform Era. This book is important study not only for readers interested in development of Muslim women in Southeast Asia, but also for those who interested in transformation of Muslim practice in the world.