Islam

International interest in Muslim women has increased as their dress, behavior, and social roles are seen as symbols of socioreligious trends against a backdrop of increasingly visible religiosity in Muslim communities in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. Interpretations of Islamic scriptures regarding women vary significantly and have been enshrined in law to differing degrees. Islam plays a key-yet often polarizing-role, especially as the current sociopolitical climate is such that debates about women's status are increasingly taking place in Islamic terms.

Controversy over increasing religiosity, and its impact on Muslim women, stems from debate in many Muslim communities about whether social, economic, and political institutions should be based on western or Islamic models. Analyzing the spread of disillusionment with Western ideas and practices is crucial to understanding the increasing appeal of Islamic models.

By the 1970s, non-Islamic political and economic models had failed to deliver prosperity and freedom to many Muslim communities in the Middle East and Asia, and created instead oppressive governments and widespread poverty. The social changes of the early 20th century-including the spread of nuclear families and companionate marriage, and the expansion of education and middle-class aspirations-were significant around the world, but many later Western changes-for instance, women's sexual liberation-were [Page 773]not widely accepted in many non-Western Muslim communities. Finally, foreign intervention in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia did not cease with the founding of independent governments, but continues in ways that frustrate many-from Western support for corrupt and oppressive regimes to perceived occupation in Israel, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Increasing scrutiny of Muslims living in North America and Europe serves to further heighten tensions.

As disillusionment with Western models increased, Islamic revivalist movements have spread and the popularity of social, political, and economic models that derive inspiration from Islam have increased. Proponents link them to Islamic heritage-even if many of their practices are actually recent developments-including a centuries-old tradition of Islamic “renewal” as the ideal solution to failure or weakness. Islamic political parties can link their policies to thevalues of fairness, honesty, and lack of corruption, which are often seen to be lacking in the Western-style alternatives. Finally, these models often do not require further social change or upheaval, especially with respect to women's status.

Chador-clad women entering the mosque in the holy city of Qum, Iran, where the public veiling of women is required by law.