Introduction: Changing prospects for Muslim women in the global economy

Abstract

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores the changing role of Muslim women in the economy in the twenty-first century. It examines how women in Bangladesh are progressing in the workplace and public sphere in what is traditionally a "man's world". Through the lens of female role modelling within English as a Foreign Language, the book uncovers the socialisation of young Saudi girls into traditional career goals keeping in line with the cultural norms of the country. It then focuses on Muslim women in a less known region to many English-speaking readers: that of Bulgaria, a former socialist country. The book also highlights the developmental differences between the northern and southern regions of Nigeria, a country where nearly half the population practises Islam. It then focuses on Iran after the Islamic Revolution and the participation of women in the country's economy.