Muslim Women Today: Between Sharia and Feminism
Muslim Women Today: Between Sharia and Feminism
Author(s): Irena Kristeva, Kristina KirovaSubject(s): Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Theology and Religion, Islam studies, Sociology of Religion
Published by: ЮГОЗАПАДЕН УНИВЕРСИТЕТ »НЕОФИТ РИЛСКИ«
Keywords: Arab Awakening; Islamic Feminism; Muslim Women; Sharia; Women’s rights
Summary/Abstract: The study counterposes Islamic law and Islamic feminism. First, we focus on some Qur’anic texts concerning women’s status in Islam. Then we look at the shift in the perception of women’s rights brought by the Arab Awakening. Finally, we analyse the current discourses that unfold around the religious world-view of Muslim women and their emancipation. For this purpose, we problematize, on the one hand, works that examine the application of Sharia norms to Muslim women, and on the other hand, classic analyses of Islamic feminism and its direct impact on the position of women in society. It is obvious that Islamic law and Islamic tradition limit women’s rights. However, despite the religious pressure, the rights of Muslim women should become a priority not only of feminist discourses and women’s movements, but also of the state policies. The place of Muslim women in the social life does not deny her characteristics as a guardian of the home hearth, but opens her to the world, while at the same time keeping her in the Islamic tradition.
Journal: Балканистичен Форум
- Issue Year: 35/2026
- Issue No: 2
- Page Range: 251-264
- Page Count: 14
- Language: English
