ABSTRACT
In the Conclusions, I bring together the case studies in order to reflect on the overall processes of “talking back”. I return to the concept of “assertions of unintelligibility,” as the statements that marginalized people make in support of their rights, and which may be dismissed as silent speech, speech constructed as insane, or punishable speech. I discuss some major obstacles to circulating Muslim alternative media, as evidenced by the women’s experiences – namely, being subjected to “symbolic” violence and hate speech, having to carry on the burden of representation, operating with limited access and funding, and finally being subjected to vulnerabilities of co-optation. The chapter ends with suggestions for future directions, with a particular emphasis on the imperative to return to the question of self-representation and of sustaining alternative voices in the public sphere.
