Forum for Anthropology and Culture. 2016. No. 12

THE EMOTIONAL WORLD OF ISLAM: A Review of SVETLANA PESHKOVA, WOMEN, ISLAM, AND IDENTITY: PUBLIC LIFE IN PRIVATE SPACES IN UZBEKISTAN. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 2014, 352 pp.

Anna Cieślewska

Jagiellonian University
24 Gołębia Str., Krakow, Poland
acieslewska()gmail.com

Summary: This review discusses Women, Islam, and Identity, Public Life in Private Spaces in Uzbekistan by Svetlana Peshkova, who analyses the status and role of female informal religious practitioners called bibi otın / otın-oy / otınça, in Uzbekistan. These spiritual female leaders deal with a variety of issues related to spiritual life, teaching children, and women religion, as well as performing rituals and prayers for the female part of the community in some parts of Central Asia. Peshkova analyses the sphere of influence of female religious leaders in the context of religion and everyday life. The material reflects the political, social, and economic issues of Uzbekistan by exploring the personal narratives of three female personages. The book is based on a field research conducted by the author in 2001, 2002–2003, and 2011 in the Uzbek part of the Ferghana Valley.

Keywords: female religious leaders, Islam, a religious policy, Uzbekistan.

To cite: Cieślewska A., 'The Emotional World of Islam: A Review of Svetlana Peshkova, Women, Islam, and Identity, Public Life in Private Spaces in Uzbekistan. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 2014, 352 pp.', Forum for Anthropology and Culture, 2016, no. 12, pp. 278–281.

URL: http://anthropologie.kunstkamera.ru/files/pdf/eng012/cieslewska.pdf