Tag: feminism
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Whose Body? Islam, Surrogacy, and the Limits of Market Autonomy
Meghan Trainor’s announcement of her third child’s birth through surrogacy is the latest example of the ongoing debate over commercial surrogacy, particularly in wealthy circles. The discussion addresses the theological and philosophical considerations regarding bodily autonomy, consent, and the commodification of reproduction, emphasizing the Islamic perspective that prohibits such practices based on moral principles.
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A Critical Appraisal of Islamic Feminism on Patriarchy and Division of Labor
Fatima Mernissi (1940 – 2015) is widely regarded as a pioneer of Islamic feminism, particularly for her critiques of patriarchy in Muslim societies. Through works such as Beyond the Veil (2003), Women’s Rebellion and Islamic Memory (1996), and Women and Islam (1991), Mernissi challenges male-dominated interpretations of Islamic texts, arguing that women’s subjugation is deeply…
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Femonationalism and Homonationalism: Who Gets to Commit Genocide?
“The first ever pride flag raised in Gaza,” read the caption of a picture featuring a beaming soldier raising an In the Name of Love pride flag while standing amidst the rubble and dead children his state and army have carpet bombed. Meanwhile, Noah Schnapp, one of America’s most famous gay actors, shared a post…
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A Book Review of ‘The Case Against The Sexual Revolution’
Perry’s book is a powerful critique of the sexual revolution, charting its negative impact on Western society. Throughout my reading, I could not help being struck by the raw honesty and piercing insight of her words. In her analysis, Perry exposes the damage inflicted upon the traditional family structure and the values that underpin it,…
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The Male-Only Panel Fallacy
The issue of male-only panels is a new one. Outrage often seems manufactured: Muslim women are not “represented” in conferences, scholarly circles, panels, public events, speaking engagements, etc. This is considered a big problem, as it clearly serves as evidence of systematic misogyny, and Muslims will never progress unless it is resolved via a quota…
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Logrando el equilibrio entre feminismo y antifeminismo
Como una mujer jóven, me interesaba el lenguaje de la igualdad y la justicia social y me sentí obligada a tomar una posición en el debate sobre el feminismo. “¿Cómo podría alguien apoyar la desigualdad o la injusticia?”, las feministas lo preguntarían acusatoriamente. “Defiende el lado correcto de la historia,” ellas dirían, presentando el feminismo…
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Logic as a Tool for Adab
There is something quite bizarre about walking into an Islamic studies lecture to hear figures of the past defined in modern terms. With ease, the figure of Rābi’ah al-’Adawiyyah is described not just as a Ṣūfī but someone who “emphasise[s] the autonomy and capacity to remain free of any male authority”; this definition is then…
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The Sanitized Legacy of Nawal El-Saadawi
Egyptian feminist Nawal el-Saadawi has been the focus of hundreds of commemoration posts highlighting her combat for women’s rights after her passing on March 21. Her sanitized legacy overshadows the less celebratory aspects of her activism. An Islamophobe and supporter of the Rabaa Massacre, Saadawi is not being put under enough scrutiny.
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A Book Review of Mona Eltahawy’s “Headscarves and Hymens: Why the Middle East Needs a Sexual Revolution”
The most worrying problem with Eltahawy is that she will not accept an Islam that isn’t chastened by secular liberalism.
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Motherhood is a Communal Imperative
Subject to the same atomizing forces as the rest of western society, Muslim women are having to choose between the frying pan and the fire.