Headstrong Daughters

Nadia Jamal takes us inside the lives of ordinary Muslim women from around Australia, showing how they find ways to stay true to their faith, and to themselves as well. These candid and moving stories reveal a side to Australian life that is little known and often misunderstood.

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