Islamic feminism

Feminism is the idea that different sexes and genders are equal in society, that no sex or gender is better or worse than another. Feminism wants women and men to have equal status and equal rights in society. Islamic feminism tries to bring these ideas to countries in which most people are Muslim.

People who are in favor of the idea also say that there are several countries with Muslim majorities, where women had important roles: there were female heads of state, prime ministers, and state secretaries. Examples of such women are Lala Shovkat of Azerbaijan, Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan, Mame Madior Boye of Senegal, Tansu Çiller of Turkey, Kaqusha Jashari of Kosovo, and Megawati Sukarnoputri of Indonesia. In Bangladesh, Khaleda Zia was elected the country's first female prime minister in 1991. She served as prime minister until 2009. Sheikh Hasina replaced her. Hasina is still prime minister in 2021. This makes Bangladesh the country with the longest continuous female premiership.^[1]

Unlike other feminists, who are usually secular, Islamic feminists want to use Islam and its teachings for their ideas.^[2]

One of the things Islamic feminists want to reach is that men and women are truly equal in all aspects of daily life, and in society. They also want to include non-Muslims in their view and debate. Islamic scholars see Islamic feminism as more radical as secular feminism,^[3] because it uses Islam with the Quran as its most important text.^[4] As a "school of thought" it refers to people such as Morocccan sociologist Fatema Mernissi and scholars such as Amina Wadud and Leila Ahmed.^[5]

1. ↑ "Prime Minister of Bangladesh - PM Office Email Address." MediaBangladeshnet about Bangladesh Print Electronic Internet More. N.p., 15 Nov. 2015. Web. 1 Oct. 2016.
2. ↑ "Women In Islam". milligazette.com. 22 November 2010. Archived from the original on 2015-10-22. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
3. ↑ "Islamic feminism: what's in a name?" Archived 2015-03-20 at the Wayback Machine by Margot Badran, Al-Ahram, January 17–23, 2002
4. ↑ "Exploring Islamic Feminism" Archived 2005-04-16 at the Wayback Machine by Margot Badran, Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, Georgetown University, November 30, 2000
5. ↑ Lindsey, Ursula (11 April 2018). "Can Muslim Feminism Find a Third Way?". New York Times. Archived from the original on 2018-04-12. Retrieved 11 April 2018.