Islamic Feminism

Gender Inequality

Inequality takes shape in many forms. Sex and sexuality spurs debate over Qur'anic interpretation directed at male homosexuality, but organizations are driving to broaden such readings. Muslim dress code varies worldwide, but in some cultures women are expected to wear full-body coverings (burka or abaya) and others simply a headscarf (hijab) in public spaces. Islamic feminists are also calling for a reformed text of Muslim Personal Law (or Muslim Family Law), discriminating legislation that dictates marriage, divorce, and inheritance or a complete rejection of such law.

There are three primary groups of people propagating Islamic feminism identifying themselves as either: committed Muslims, secular feminists, and/or former leftists. Muslim scholars are also engaged in addressing such issues as Islam and democracy, human rights, and philosophy. In addition to representing the project or identity of Islamic feminism on a global level, local responsibilities include prioritizing the particular needs of a region and engaging in local activism.

[Page 778]Islamic feminism is not immune to enemies, particularly resistance from men who fear a loss of power but also women who fear a loss of protection (whether materially, spiritually, and/or morally). Additionally, many individuals denigrate Islam as antiwoman, including certain invalid Western generalizations of tribal, patriarchal, and misogynistic features. Efforts to reinterpret Qur'anic passages in support of Islamic feminism counteract such opinion.

Female heads of state have now been appointed in at least six Muslim majority countries and the annual International Islamic Feminist Conference, held in Barcelona, Spain, has been in existence since 2005.