The status of women within islam is a topic that has attracted significant attention in the west, particularly since the events of september 2001. This article examines developments in cislamic feminism and offers a critique of ffi feminist theories, which construct it as an authentic and indigenous emancipatory o alternative to secular feminisms. But looking beneath the surface at the underlying philosophical principles will reveal that the. The way this movement evolves will determine the future direction and development of the womens right movement in iran and in the larger muslim world. Islam embodies many of the principles that feminism fights for equality, dignity and respect of women. She was a professor of religion and philosophy at among others, the virginia commonwealth university and one of the founders of the group sisters in islam. Abstract this paper seeks to evaluate missiological approaches to muslim women in the light of the analysis of moroccan islamic feminist, fatima mernissi.
Feminism, secularism, and the impossibilities of an islamic. Some consider islamic and feminist perspectives as mutually exclusive or deny the need for an islamic feminism with the argument that islam as it is has already given women all their. Summary symbol of islamic feminism, muslim feminism that incorporates the crescent moon and star, the symbol of islam with the female symbol. If this is what islamic feminism seeks, then islamic feminism w ould seem to suggest that there is a timeless meaning to a document the quran, which was corrupted by later exegetes, and which. However, islamic family law as variously manifested in muslim nations poses obstacles to womens equality. Returning home to maine in april has allowed me to experience winter turning her ancient wisdom filled face towards the maiden of spring. The reason islamic feminism has been perverted is because over centuries it had to conform to islamic law, sharia, which regulates to a faretheewell.
Women, islam, and modernity sociology 3450 fall semester 20. A more comprehensive introduction by rosemarie tong and tina fernandes botts westview, 2018 jamin hubner the terms feminism and feminist are thrown around quite a bit these days. This project considers attempts by scholars from within as well as outside muslim countries to analyze gender and sex equality with a new approach that brings islam and feminism into one discourse, often called islamic feminism. Islam, patriarchy, and feminism in the middle east margot badran the study of women in the middle east, now well into its second decade, has produced an impressive corpus of papers and periodical articles. Fatima sedat, islam, feminism, and islamic feminism. Islamic feminism appeared at the time of an accelerating islamist movement, according to the iranian ziba mirhosseini who initially supported the islamic revolution in iran. A feminist interpretation of womens rights in islam 1991 mohammad akram nadwi, almuhaddithat. I call this a transformation rather than a reformation. When speaking of islamic feminism, one must take into account the meaning of the two words that make up this term. Accordingly, external actors should apply an open and dynamic approach. Radical feminists think liberal feminist perspectives are not drastic enough to address the centuries of individual, institutional, and systemic oppression that have ensued. In 1999 the fires were already burning to condemn the taliban regime.
Thus, the term islamic feminism raises a number of theoretical problems, among which are the following if western feminism went through a number of historical stages, each with its own set of characteristics and theories, and then branched out into more speci. Margot badran, feminism in islam secular and religious convergences 2009 fatema mernissi, the veil and the male elite. However, media coverage of the plight of women in afghanistan does not reflect the far more nuanced and diverse series of readings and debates on women and feminism in the islamic world. Students are expected to attend all class meetings. Born into a methodist africanamerican family, wadud became a muslim at the age of 20. However, it now appears that the feminism of alghazali has gained popularity amongst the 3 leila ahmed, in women and gender in islam new haven. For some, feminists are men and women who want generic equality between the sexes. This paper is intended to provide a brief and authentic exposition of what islam stands for in this regard. Because some secular muslim feminists are less interested in reforming islam and more concerned with promoting gender equality within a secular society, the term islamic feminism arose to. Optional reading sabbagh, suha, ed, introduction, the debate on arab women from arab women, between defiance and restraint, new york. From 9 to 11 november 2001 the isim will hold a workshop on islam, womens rights and islamic feminism.
Islamic feminism reform muslim women quran islam introduction islamic feminisms propose a series of more or less courageous reforms are disputed in the traditionalist and neotraditionalist islamic world. The sacred writings of islam, like those of the other abrahamic faiths. Woman in islam in the divine scheme of regulation of the relationship between men and women, islam has assigned a position of dignity and honour to woman. Shahidian arg ues that islam ic feminism is an oxym oron, a contradiction in terms. Until the last two decades, western observers of the plight of muslim women have portrayed islam as uniquely patriarchal and incompatible with womens equality. The islamic transformation is not about the reforming of patriarchal claims and practices that were.
Islam and tantra at first glance, islam and tantrism might seem an unlikely pair for comparison. Replacing islamic feminism margot badran i see islamic feminism at the center of a transformation within islam struggling to make headway. The christian perspective on womens status and role in islamic societies is. Making connections between different perspectives 911 november 2001 took place under the shadow of the looming confrontation between the west and the muslim world, at a time when public interest was focused on the american offensive in afghanistan and antiamerican responses. Patriarchy comes in various shapes and affects women as they grow up in varying degrees in every context ah. According to margot badran, islamic feminism emerged out of a critique of both patriarchal islam ism as well as of secular feminism. The isim workshop on islam, womens rights, and islamic feminism. Women, qasim amin, and the rise of feminist discourse 3. The women scholars in islam 2007 sariya contractor, muslim, women in britain. Ranging from reinterpretation of holy sources to recovering indisputable islamic rights of women, islamic feminists challenge patriarchy in multiple ways.
Western commentators have generally projected a negative view of the relationship among islamism as a political ideology, islam as a religion, and women. Such beneficent regulation is essential for peace, comfort, happiness, continuation of the species and progress. At the time it came into existence, it was revolutionary for the rights that it gave. Licensing pdusergazzelle you cannot overwrite this file. The missiological implications of the islamic feminism of. In this thesis, i examine the life of two influential iranian islamic. Till this day, the common western view of women in the muslim world is grounded in the belief that women are lower in status and are defeated.
Radical feminism radical feminism is the second most notable form of feminism. Made for wjeceduqas a level religious studies, islam theme 3, d. What matters is not an essentialised construct of islam but rather the ongoing interpretations and practice of local partners. Islamic feminism feminism in the middle east is not a new phenomenon, it is more than a century old. Islamic feminism can be better understood through the strategies employed. Since the 1990s, a powerful feminist movement has emerged in iran led by women who are challenging traditional authority and reinterpreting the quran for themselves. In recent times, islamic feminism has emerged as a challenge to patriarchy in muslim societies. Islamist feminism, most of which draw upon, expand or refute liberal, marxist, radical or socialist versions of feminism.
As mahmood elucidates, even skeptics who are normally leery of western feminists paternalistic desire to save third world women were sympathetic to the feminist majoritys campaign. The civil law as well as the constitutions of many muslim states provide for equal rights between women and men. The missiological implications of the islamic feminism of fatima mernissi author. By claiming that islam is feminist, these selfappointed advocates seem to be trying to convince others that islam is keeping up with modernity, human rights, and. Islam is the first religion which systematically empowered women when women were considered totally. It was here and in the combining of the languages of colonialism and feminism. In her examination of the colonial roots of discourses surrounding muslim women and the veil, leila ahmed summarizes. It is a part of the global movement housed within the broader, contem porary movement operating in muslim c ountries. The holy quran emphasizes that go d in his perfect wisdom has. Islamic family law, which addresses marriage, divorce, child custody, and inheritance. In pakistan, feminists have belonged to various schools, sometimes knowingly and at other times unconsciously. Although the month has been chilly, and until two days ago snow covered tree stripped mountains still. According to this approach, which typically equates feminism with feminist theory, liberal feminists such as betty friedan see significant others, p. The approach of most of the historical transformations and the womens movement in pakistan.
Western views of women and islam dominant western views of women in islamist movements and more generally of women and islam are largely marked by stereotypes rather than knowledge. While shahidian has been especially critical of t ohidi, shahrzad mojab, li ke moghissi, has. Even the related word gender, itself a recent theoretical tool denoting male and. Portraying a counterdiscourse 5 cific context of lebanon and present the content the women that i interviewed provide along four coordinates. Theorizing the politics of islamic feminism shahrzad mojab q abstract. The position of islam on this issue has been among the subjects presented to the western reader with the least objectivity. Islamic feminism represents the ideology which describes the discourse and the actions of those who protect womens rights within the context of authentic or wellunderstood islam 3. The teachings of islam are based essentially on the quran gods revelation and hadeeth elaboration by prophet. The sectarian differences in the belief and practice of islam, particularly among the shiites and the sunnis. Expressing feminism and nationalism in autobiography. Mar, 2018 a lesson thst looks at the role and status of women in islam and links to feminism, the pioneering work of professor aisha abd al rahman.
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