Through A Local Prism

Gender, Globalization, and Identity in Moroccan Women's Magazines

By (author) Loubna H. Skalli

Publication date:

27 July 2006

Length of book:

214 pages

Publisher

Lexington Books

Dimensions:

238x184mm
7x9"

ISBN-13: 9780739111949

In Through a Local Prism, Loubna H. Skalli explores the forces of global cosmopolitanism, European and American, as they collide with local definitions of self, gender, and community in the Arab and Muslim culture. Since the late 1980's, Morocco, a post-colonial Muslim country, has faced dramatic political, economic, and sociocultural changes. Utilizing Moroccan women's magazines, Skalli explores the tensions and intersections between global forces and local traditions with close attention to their impact on gender definitions among Arab Muslims. Drawing on communication, media, and cultural theories, Skalli's research redefines culture, gender, and national identity in the context of the globalized world. The focus on the Middle East makes this book of great interest to scholars and students of cultural studies, communications, and women's studies.
[I]n its approach to globalization and localization dynamics in a very focused, careful, and situated way, this is a splendid and necessary study that . . . will ably stand at the forefront of global cultural theory and cultural studies work; it cuts across the new European Studies as well as emerging formations of Arab studies to do some innovative reflection and intervention into cultural identity and media debates . . . this is an outstanding work of serious and thorough scholarship.