Abstract

Whereas high-profile women leaders in Dakar, Senegal’s Sunnī movement engage public media like radio and television to disseminate their movement’s ideals of Islamic reform and modesty for women, lesser-known female authorities convert private spaces like their homes into public forums (“internal publics”) as a means to perpetuate Sunnī norms. This article examines the case of Aïcha, who as owner of a prosperous Sunnī beauty salon that she operates in her living room, educates other women about reformist values and provides employment for female adherents. In this way, lesser-known female authorities like Aïcha may spread more potent political and countercultural messages about state secularism, tarīqas, and Muslim femininity for the movement than illustrious female Sunnī leaders.

pdf

Share