One of the most visible elements of the Muslim faith, the veil, will be the subject of a lecture by Dr. Sahar Amer, author of What is Veiling?, at Sonoma State University on Tuesday, April 14, 2015 at 7:30pm in Schroeder Hall (Green Music Center). 

Known by a variety of names – hijab, niqab, burqa, etc. – the covering worn by some Muslim women is one of the least well-understood practices of Islam.  Dr. Sahar Amer, who herself veiled for a short time in her twenties, has brought a depth of context as well as a contemporary look at the phenomenon, explaining the origins of the purported dictum to veil in Islamic thought as well as the creative, thoughtful, and sometimes subversive reasons behind women’s choice to don the veil (or to remove it) in the twenty-first century.  Her talk will offer new and thought-provoking ways to consider the veil at a time when the choice visibly to be Muslim has been complicated by oversimplification and more in the eyes of non-practitioners.  Attendees are sure to leave with a new appreciation of the complex roles this practice has played in history, religion, politics, society, feminism, fashion, and art.

The talk will be preceded by Weaved, a short multimedia performance presented by Larger Purpose Productions & Performers. Designed and directed by Christine Renaudin, this artistic prelude is meant to sensitize the audience by way of a multimodal approach to the topic and prepare the viewers to question assumptions and explore the complex diversity of the veiling practice.

This event is sponsored by the HUB, the School of Arts & Humanities, the Department of Modern Languages & Literatures, Phi Beta Delta (the Honor Society for International Scholars), the Department of Political Science, and the Center for Ethics, Law, and Society.

Admission to the event is free, but reservations are strongly encouraged, as seating is limited.  Tickets may be reserved by calling 707.664.4177 or emailing suzanne.toczyski@sonoma.edu.