Equality from Within: Islamic Feminism in the Modern World

Presenter: Andrew Lawn
Along with jihad and issues of violence and terrorism, the place of women in Islam is one of the most contested and misunderstood issues pertaining to Islam in the modern world, particularly in our Western, North American context. Is Islam inherently patriarchal or unfair to women? If so, is this inequality a result of religious directives or is it culturally derived? Most importantly, what do Muslim women themselves have to say about their place in Islam and Islamic societies? In this presentation we consider the work of a number of Muslim feminists who have presented diverse perspectives on gender issues in Islam.