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Muslim Women's Struggles for a Better World through Promoting Gender Equality
Muslim Women's Struggles for a Better World through Promoting Gender Equality
Thursday, 14 July 2016: 09:00-10:30
Location: Hörsaal 33 (Main Building)
RC32 Women in Society (host committee) Language: English
Some scholars and activists from both Muslim and non-Muslim backgrounds have tended to consider the amalgamation of “Islam’ and “feminism” ironic and inapplicable. For them, Islam is a fundamentally patriarchal and misogynist religion, thus far from the egalitarian trend of feminism. By the beginning of the new millennium there has been a growing tendency for not viewing the relationship between Islam and feminism in antagonistic terms. The distinction lies in the imageries of “Islam” and “feminism”. Very broadly speaking, if “feminism” is about the promotion of gender equality and “Islam” is viewed in a way to accommodate equality, then the synthesis of “Islamic feminism” is not an issue.
Islamic revivalism in Muslim countries has often created challenges for women by restraining and regulating their lives through conservative interpretations of Islamic scripture and other texts, particularly when translated into oppressive practices in social and legal domains. However, liberal and progressive Muslim intellectuals focus mostly on ethical, pluralistic, and inclusive objectives of Islam to promote inclusivity, justice and equality.
This session will provide a platform for scholars and activists to present empirical case studies or normative research in which gender inequality and oppression within Muslim contexts are being challenged by means of progressive Islamic discourses. To what extent the intellectual debates are transferring to grassroots? What social transformations are taking place? What are the challenges of progressive Islamic discourses in relation to gender issues?
Session Organizers:
Chair: