Quiet changes afoot amongst Muslim women in Europe

I thought this article highlighting what's described as a quiet revolution spreading among young European Muslim women was cause for some quiet optimism:

For many, the key is education, an option often denied their mothers and grandmothers. These daughters of the poor immigrants from mostly Muslim countries are moving into universities, studying law, medicine and anthropology. They are getting jobs in social work, in schools, offices, business and media.

(snip)

In the crowded immigrant suburbs ringing Paris, the scene of recent riots mostly led by young Muslim males, teachers say female students are the most motivated because they have the most to gain. This mirrors findings in young Muslim communities throughout Europe.

Somehow this doesn't surprise me in the least, and it dovetails nicely with recent stories that reported women outpacing men in college admissions in the U.S. This is excellent news, methinks. (And I'll refrain from patronizing comments like, "You go, girl!", even if the sentiment is there...)