THE DEPICTION OF MUSLIM WOMEN IN RANDA ABDEL-FATTAH’S DOES MY HEAD LOOK BIG IN THIS?

Abstract

The present study explores the depiction of a Muslim womzn in Randa Abdel-Fattah’s Does My Head Look Big in This? (2005).The novel challenges the image of Muslim women in the Western discourse about female’s social role. The religious journey of the protagonist in Australia has been depicted in the novel. Data for the present study was analyzed through qualitative content analysis in the light of postmodern theory and Said’s Orientalism (1978). The analysis showed Muslim women are devotee who follow their religious practices, recognized and empowered by their faith. The Muslims in the West are being treated as subaltern andare always represented by someone else either as rebellious or victims by neglecting their voices and choices. But Islam has been portrayed as a source of inspiration and a matter of personal choice rather than a compulsion for the protagonist to wear Hijab and follow other Islamic doctrines. The protagonist willing selects the Islamic way of life and become a practicing Mulism. It empowers her against all negative temptations and her moral standards uplift and other characters realize this at the end and accept her worth and wish. The Western concepts about Muslims being violent and extremists were highlighted and corrected. The dominancy of the West should be justified by accepting every label it pastes on different nations and religious groups and the minority groups should not always be depicted as oppressed and victims. The brighter side of every picture should be presented in every literary work as well. Amal’s adherence with her religious practices has been depicted in a positive way to portray a positive picture of a devotee Muslim by overthrowing the stereotypes attached with Muslims and becoming a tolerant inhabitant of Western society.