Final answer:
Rebecca Popenoe's statement points out that Azawagh Arab women control their lives by controlling and manipulating their bodies, indicating a form of social agency within their cultural context.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Rebecca Popenoe, "It is in large part by controlling and manipulating their bodies that [Azawagh Arab] women control their lives." This statement encapsulates how Azawagh Arab women in a particular society assert autonomy within the constraints of their culture. The control and manipulation mentioned here refer to various strategies and social practices that women use to navigate the socio-cultural landscapes in which they live.
The socio-cultural context provided outlines the historical background of women's roles and the power dynamics within different Islamic societies. While status and power could vary significantly, women in some societies retained ownership of dowries, could initiate divorce, and controlled their inheritances. Women's influence was also noted in the realm of politics, where they could exercise control behind the scenes.
Notably, some of the information provided does not directly relate to Rebecca Popenoe's statement but rather gives an overall historical context of women's roles in Islamic societies. Popenoe's work specifically examines how these women articulate their agency within their societal norms, often through subtle and indirect means.