Headstrong Daughters: Inspiring stories from the new generation of Australian Muslim women

(Paperback)

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How would you feel, as a guest, about sitting in a suburban living room that is for women only
What if you wanted a baby but as a single woman could not have one outside of a marriage
Could you stay home to mourn a husband for four months and ten days

Headstrong Daughters takes us inside the lives of Muslim women in Australia today. They are working professionals, mothers, and students. At home they are finding ways to stay true to their faith as well as to themselves, navigating the expectations of their families and the traditions they brought with them to their new country.

But things are not always what they seem. These candid, moving and sometimes surprising stories reveal a side to Australian life that is little known and often misunderstood. Inspiring, warm and determined, these women are the new face of Islam in Australia.

'A thoughtful, honest, and compelling window into a community so often assumed about, but rarely engaged with. I finished it in a single sitting.'
Susan Carland, author of Fighting Hislam

'Jamal's neutral, yet gently perceptive style allows the stories of her women to shine through, illuminating the myriad points of intersection with Islam in ordinary life. An absolutely fascinating and illuminating read.'
Annabel Crabb, ABC writer and broadcaster

Reviews

'A natural storyteller, Nadia Jamal ...reveal[s] how this generation negotiate[s] their loyalties to their families and commitment to their faith as they strive to follow their own path, and how navigating these obligations and obstacles enriches them as human beings.' - Sydney Morning Herald

Author Bio

Nadia Jamal is a former senior journalist with the Sydney Morning Herald and co-author of the award-winning Glory Garage: Growing up Lebanese Muslim in Australia. She has become a lawyer and works as a financial crime analyst.