| Publication |
2010.
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| Summary/Abstract |
This article examines the social role and broader cultural meanings of gold jewelry used in Muslim weddings in the West Bank---"marriage jewelry" that by right belongs exclusively to the woman and whose socio-symbolic value extends far beyond its market value. Through interviews with muftis, gold dealers, and especially Palestinian women, the article explores the unwritten "rules" governing marriage jewelry's exchange, and how these rules are affected in a context of occupation and economic hardship. In particular, the author discusses the relatively new phenomenon of imitation (or "virtual") gold jewelry for public display in wedding rites, exploring the new rules growing up around it and speculating on its long-term impact on entrenched traditions.
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