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Islamic Feminisms: Particularities, Limitations, and Contributions
Abstract by Serra Kocak On Session VI-25  (Women's Movements and Activism)

On Friday, November 3 at 4:00 pm

2023 Annual Meeting

Abstract
In this paper, I will demonstrate the main themes of Islamic feminists, their methods, and the impacts of political and cultural context on their struggles. I argue that the rise of local feminist ideas and gender consciousness in Muslim societies is crucial for the future of feminist works worldwide. This paper consists of six main sections. The first section summarizes the varying cultural and political contexts in which Islamic feminist literature is produced. The second section outlines the general methods through which Islamic feminists justify their arguments. These methods are reinterpretations of the Islamic sources, the Qur’an, and Hadith (Prophet Muhammad’s words), historical contextualization of the Qur’anic verses, and adaption to the practices of contemporary modern societies. The following section explains the arguments of Islamic feminists by focusing on the works of critical scholars: Amina Wadud, Asma Barlas, Fatima Mernissi, Leila Ahmed, and Saba Mahmood. The fourth section revolves around a discussion of the secular feminists in Muslim societies and their critique of the rise of Islamic feminisms. The following section examines some feminist scholars of the Middle East, situating Islamic feminisms within an anti-colonial framework. Finally, the paper concludes with a discussion of the role of Islamic feminist movements in global feminism.
Discipline
Sociology
Geographic Area
All Middle East
Sub Area
None