Islamic feminism began as a movement in the 1990s, primarily in Asia and Africa, although it is not geographically confined, and centers its principles on full equality of all Muslims regardless of gender. Conceptually there is no division between the East and West; and as an ideal, Islamic feminism is spreading faster now than in the past due in large part to the expediency of information dissemination via the Internet.

In contrast to secular feminism, Islamic feminism seeks equality in both public and private spaces. In public, this includes appointing women as heads of states, imams, judges, and sharing the same mosque space as men. In the private sphere, it includes challenging traditional roles of male authority over spouse and family.