Women and sexuality in muslim societies. LIB/WOMEN/1/42 Available at OHCHR Library.

Women and sexuality in muslim societies Most current scholarship rejects the idea that the Islamic religion is the primary A must-read for anyone interested in Muslim cultures, this volume not only explores Muslim identities through the lens of sexuality and gender - their historical and contemporary transformations and local and global articulations - but also interrogates our understanding of what constitutes a ‘Muslim’ identity in selected Muslim-majority countries at this pivotal Muslims and Muslim societies has been a small but growing subfijield of sociology since the 1970s (Keskin 2012). First is The forced sexuality of Muslim women is in fact oppression. construction of women's sexuality in Islam. A small handful of works cover multiple topics on gender and sexuality across premodern, modern, and contemporary periods. With more than a billion Muslims worldwide, Islam remains the fastest growing religion in the World. Marketing of women as commodities and objects for sexual use was an everyday reality in Abbasid society. Sociologists of women and gender Muslim Concept of Active Female Sexuality,” Mernissi argues that women are constrained in Islamic cultures not because they are considered weak and passive (as in Christian traditions) but With regard to sexuality in Muslim societies, this portrayal has been largely the same in the media and in research, casting Muslim individuals as sexually repressed, intolerant of queer identities, and at odds with values that It is therefore reasonable to assume that Muslim women will have dif-ferent types of concerns depending on where they live and in what conditions. An abbreviated discussion of many topics discussed there appears online on the Internet sites of the Feminist Sexual Ethics Project and Download Citation | Women and Sexuality in Muslim Societies: Pinar Ilkkaracan, editor | Book reviewed in this article:Deconstructing Images of “The Turkish Woman”: Zehra F. , download Download free PDF View PDF chevron_right. Guidelines for the Ideal Muslim Woman: Gender Ideology and Praxis in the tests, or female genital cutting - in Muslim societies, including the Middle East, have increasingly drawn the attention of the Western media and public in recent years as human rights abuses. From community-based oppression to state-sanctioned legal battles, women rights are being challenged at multiple levels. Of the 48 Sisters in Islam Sisters in Islam provides a wide range of information resources on marriage, divorce, domestic violence in Muslim societies. Any reference to the subjugation of women in Islamic societies is automatically usurped to further that narrative and ultimately foster physical and cultural imperialism. For example, examining the domain of sexuality can lead to a better understanding of the conditions that led to the uprisings and the 2011 Revolution in Egypt; sexuality will also be a measure of progress (or lack thereof) (El-Feki 2013). We hope these pages become a frequent stop for all Muslims and non-Muslims committed to ensuring Muslim women full dignity and participation in matters of faith, family and society. Conversely, a woman is considered an integral part of society in the sight of Islam. The Double Bind. Using varied sources, from scripture, religious, legal and historical texts, letters, novels, poetry, and film we will consider topics including women's piety, slavery, marriage and sexuality, feminisms and LGBTQ identities, an disadvantages in some Muslim societies. Format; BibTeX LIB/WOMEN/1/42. I aim to discuss From the writing of her first book, Beyond the Veil: Male-Female Dynamics in Modern Muslim Society in 1975, Mernissi has sought to reclaim the ideological discourse on women and sexuality from the stranglehold of patriarchy. If women have so much power and influence, it is ironic this power and influence does not manifest in other ways that work to augment and reinforce their role and status in society. ) Women and Sexuality in Muslim Societies Istanbul: Syracuse: Syracuse University Press, 2000, 295 pp. In their daily life, believers must follow the five pillars of Muslim, including the declaration of faith, prayer, alms-giving, fasting, Further discussion on Muslim women construction and representation can be found in Chapter 4 of his volume. New York: Women for Human Rights (WWHR), 2000; 455 pp. WOMEN AND SEXUALITY IN MUSLIM SOCIETIES Pinar Ilkkaracan, ed. Gender, Sexuality, and Islam under the Shadow of Empire / Saadia Toor. Many Muslim women have Are Islamic societies inherently oppressive to women? Is the trend among Islamic women to appear once again in veils and other traditional clothing a symbol of these differences in the way sex and sexuality are culturally mobilized to construct genderedness. Islam gave women rights that the non-Islamic world has given to women only within the past 200 years: the right to inherit property (from their husbands, their parents, their next of kin), the right to own, keep Muslim Sexual Ethics Introduction. The paper reviews cultural perceptions and realities of women in Muslim societies, emphasizing the diversity in their experiences despite overarching themes of unity. With the expansion of Islam, women in Throughout the course, we examine how notions of gender and sexuality have changed over time and played various roles in the political and social life of Muslim nations, societies, and communities. Images of the veiled woman – ‘backward’, passive, mute, cloistered and victimised by . The study of sexuality has Schmitt and Sofer’s Sexuality and Eroticism Among Males in Moslem Societies is an early collection comprised of personal reflections and experiences from tourists, temporary residents, and journalists based in a range of Arab countries. A mufti advises a woman whose son-in-law cannot consummate his marriage (Ottoman illustration, 1721). Feminist Muslim society. Conservative and religious right political forces are fiercely trying to In a challenge to the traditional view of women in classical Islam as unknown, hidden and passive members of society, research based upon all these sources increasingly demonstrates the Yet, women in Muslim societies tend to be at the forefront of organizing around issues of sexuality – they analyse existing social norms, debunk oppressive rationalisations, Women and Sexuality in Muslim Societies enables us to argue that politicizing the issue of Muslim women's sexuality, in its narrow and broader connotations, is both necessary and timely. Muslim women focuses disproportionately on the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA). Record Appears in. 4. Women and Sexuality in Muslim Societies is published by Women for Women's Human Rights (WWHR), a group engaged in the struggle for women's sexuality, bodily Muslim societies, like other human societies under the impact of modernity, have undergone profound changes in gender relationships in the last 150 years. She critically examines the classical corpus of religious-juristic texts, including the Hadith, and reinterprets them from a feminist perspective. Since there is no sexual suppression, the question of a sexual revolution does not arise. Throughout the course, we examine how notions of gender and sexuality have changed over time and played various roles in the political and social life of Muslim nations, societies, and communities. In: Beattie Jung P, Hunt M, Balakrishnan R (eds) Mernissi F (2003) Beyond the Veil, Male–Female Dynamics in Muslim Society, London: The majority of studies were conducted in Iran and Turkey, which are the fastest growing medical research output in the Middle East []. 1 Issue 2 (2014): 1- 18 3 There is a tendency to limit and restrict discussion related to sexuality in contemporary Islam because of an assumption that it can lead to a moral degradation of the umma (Muslim societies). Muslim marriage is The Holy Prophet of Islam (saw) told the world that God had especially entrusted to him the task of safeguarding the rights of women. 2. Arat, editor | Find Women in Muslim societies and communities face gender-based inequalities associated with the so-called “patriarchal gender system. Ilkkaracan P (2001) Islam and women’s sexuality: A research report from Turkey. In addition to Western feminists’ obsession with Muslim women’s lives, bodies, and identities, Muslim male jurists also have been fixated on theorizing the sexuality of Muslim women. Browse Subjects GENDER DISCRIMINATION. Although some issues that arise might introduce ethical dilemmas for The problematic position of women in Muslim societies, she argues, is a result of male-dominated (mis)interpretation of the holy texts of Islam, rather Sexual equality violates Islam's premises, actualized in its laws, that heterosexual love is dangerous to Allah's order. In addition, we also identified new barriers to sex education among Muslim youth (e. The notion of izzat or family honour is said to be a culturally specific patriarchal tool that is used to control female sexuality and protect women’s virginity in parts of South Women As Constitution-Makers by Ruth Rubio-Marín (Editor); Helen Irving (Editor) That a constitution should express the will of 'the people' is a long-standing principle, but the identity of 'the people' has historically been The clerics and Islamic scholars maintain that Islam enjoins gender equality and that the welfare of women is the focal point of the scheme of things pertaining to the role of the genders in society. A must-read for anyone interested in Muslim cultures, this volume not only explores Muslim identities through the lens of sexuality and gender - their historical and contemporary transformations and local and global articulations - but also interrogates our understanding of what constitutes a 'Muslim' identity in selected Muslim-majority countries at this pivotal Encyclopedia of Women and Islamic Cultures Focuses on women and the civilizations and societies in which Islam has played a historic role. She critically examines the classical corpus of religious-juristic texts, including the hadith, and reinterprets them from a feminist perspective. RESEARCH ON (WOMEN’S) SEXUALITY IN ISLAM ISLAMIKA INDONESIANA, Vol. The figure of the ‘Muslim Woman’ has often been the terrain on which debates about Muslims in South Asia have been framed. In this article, I review certain works on Islam and sexuality that have been conducted by scholars in several Muslim The chapter argues that pre-modern texts can help explain how sexuality is understood in contemporary Muslim-majority societies, where continuities are as striking as Gender segregation in Islamic law, custom, law and traditions refers to the practices and requirements in Islamic countries and communities for the separation of men and boys from What were/are the representations of gender and sexuality in Muslim societies in the past and present? Is there one Islam or Islams? What are the domestic, ritual, economic, and political roles that Muslim women have played/play? What about the body, sex and "gender trouble"? What can we learn about the daily lives of Muslim women in past/presen General Overviews. It is no wonder that Muslim scholars of that period, such as al-Ghazali, mainly define women as sexual beings. Format; women's sexual rights in the Middle East and the Maghreb are not the result of an Islamic vision of sexuality, but a combination of political, economic, and social inequalities through the ages. This is a controversial point based on historical narratives widely disseminated in the Middle East that during the pre-Islamic period of Jāhiliyya women were subjugated to atrocities by men but Islam was revolutionary in its egalitarian treatment of women. Many Muslim majority countries still use religious discourse to enforce stigmatization and repression of those, especially women, who do not conform to sexual norms promoted either by the state or by non-state actors. Michelle Zimbalist Rosaldo and Louise Lamphere (Stanford: Stan Yet at its heart, Islam can be a powerful force acknowledging sexual and gender diversity. General Collection. Islam also recognises the purpose of sex within marriage as not only for procreation but also for pleasure. Embracing people from diverse societies, with diverse traditions and cultures, Muslims practice Islam in diverse ways with various degrees of commitment and passion (Saeed & Akbarzadeh, 2001). This paper emphasizes Muslim women's voices in their search for religious freedom as well as their attempts to assert their religious identity in the secularized western society . Source: WHO 2013. Defending the Islamic View. As such, sexuality is a mirror of the conditions of a society at any moment in time. It addresses the impact of various socio-cultural, religious, and historical contexts on women's lives, highlighting the complexities and contradictions inherent in In the final study, Women’s Sexuality and the debates on the Anti-Pornography Bill, Sexual Politics in Muslim Societies (2017) * * * * * CSBR would like to thank everyone who contributed to this collective project over the years. It sketches not only how gender relations have been inflected by religion, politics, and colonialism since the early twentieth century, Gender and sexuality can be sensitive topics in Muslim-majority societies, so an anonymous online instrument may yield more accurate information than in-person These teachings neutralize the need for a sexual revolution in a Muslim society. By the end of the course, students will be able to critically assess scholarly and non-scholarly (media) discussions of gender in Islam. At the same time, however, it is painfully clear that in spite of the diversity of Muslim cultures and societies, women in many soci-eties have to endure similar forms of sexual inequality and Re/constructing Women, Gender, and Sexuality 5. Changing Conceptions of Moral Womanhood in Somali Popular Songs, 1960–1990 Lidwien Kapteijns 6. 3 Arguably, such attention should not surprise—after all, sexuality itself is a ception of Islam, issues surrounding gender equality have been of central concern and focus within scrip-ture and prophetic practice, and the paradigm that was constructed for Muslim societies. Some have found it useful as an early account of Muslim homoeroticism, but Murray and Roscoe’s 1997 Islamic This chapter scrutinizes the changing roles of women and gender roles, particularly in the Arab world. Formats. Because religion is often used to justify these Using varied sources, from scripture, religious, legal and historical texts, letters, novels, poetry, and film we will consider topics including women’s piety, slavery, marriage and sexuality, The study of women and gender in Islamic contexts is relatively new in sociology, and it reflects very signifijicant changes in the discipline, includ-ing increasing interest in globalization and the standard and dominant beliefs among Muslims in many countries. LIB/WOMEN/1/42 Available at OHCHR Library. Sexuality in Islam contains a wide range of views and laws, which are largely predicated on the Quran, and the sayings Professor Leila Ahmed's book, Women and Gender in Islam: Historical Roots of a Modern Debate (1992) was published in a time in which there was little scholarship on the history of women in Islam. The majority of studies (n = 48) focused on factors related to contraception knowledge and use. This period was however constitutive for the formulation of Islamic law and thus had a profound impact up till today. Background: In Islamic societies, issues related to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) are rarely discussed and considered sensitive subjects. There are many non-Muslim writers, Along with premarital sex, many Muslim leaders place heavy importance on marital fidelity (Muslim Women’s League 1999). Surveys all facets of life (society, economy, politics, religion, the arts, popular culture, sports, health, science, medicine, environment, and so forth) of women in these societies. English. Language. In this context, Islam is often stigmatized thinkers within patriarchal societies, who tend to reject worldliness —along with women and female sexuality in an attempt to reach God, Ibn ‘Arabi believes that all things material —including women and the human body are ultimately connected to divinity KEYWORDS Islam; Sufism; Gender; Sexuality; Theology; Medieval History INTRODUCTION Women’s status and presence in the public sphere in Muslim societies until the beginning of the nineteenth century were governed by interrelated factors: laws and customs that govern marriage, the social system of the harem (or the seclusion of women in special quarters), the right of women to inherit, and finally the social class to which women belong. . 4 Women’s Sexuality and the Debate on the Anti-Pornography Bill in Democratizing Indonesia 130 Andy Yentriyani & Neng Dara Affiah and sexuality in Muslim societies. She says that "same-sex sexual expression has been a more or less recognized aspect Two recent volumes that focus specifically on gender issues in Muslim societies (Duderija et al. Meanwhile, men are expected to be the protectors and caretakers of their families. Investigating the Experience of Muslim Widows in Cape Town: A Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah Approach. Despite the fact that Islamic texts fully recognize women’s sexual needs and in fact protects them as a religious right, many male Muslim leaders perpetuate cultural stereotypes about the nature of female sexuality and falsely pass them off as Islamic guidance. Tahrir Square and the 2011 Revolution This groundbreaking book explores resistance against the harsh policing of sexuality in some Muslim societies, where religious discourse is used to stigmatize and repress those, especially women This groundbreaking book explores resistance against the harsh policing of sexuality in some Muslim societies. Faced with clear evidence of oppression, emphasis on women's dress, and sex segregation, and far more on other aspects of men's and women's moral development (like respecting the privacy of others). Footnote 1 Since the Qur’an asserts that he is a man with the highest moral excellence, Muslims strive to follow his example. Women’s Rights in Islam Regarding Marriage and Divorce Journal of Law and Practice, April 11, 2011. Women are often expected to be obedient wives and mothers, staying within the familial environment. In this article, I explore the meanings of Facebook for Indonesian Muslim women, in which morality is a core Some reformist and feminist scholars argue that the concept of guardianship has formed the basis of particular gender roles in Muslim societies. In recent decades, Western European integration debates have increasingly singled out Muslim migrants and questioned their incorporation of “core Western values” (Röder 2014; Ghorashi 2010; Yilmaz 2015). Key words: Arab world, cognition, gender, Islam, metaphor, Middle East, North Africa, sexuality Sexuality in the Middle East and North Africa is one of the most charged themes that social sciences can hope to address. Female Sexuality in Muslim Society Women and sexuality in Muslim societies / edited by Pinar Ilkkaracan Ilkkaracan, Pinar; Women for Women's Human Rights. GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE. I have been in so many white spaces where women refer to me as “one of the good ones” or The paper explores the portrayal and roles of women in Muslim societies, examining the diversity of experiences and perspectives that exist despite a common cultural framework. In some Muslim-majority countries, Our findings show that current approaches to sex education among Muslim youth are likely to be unsuccessful given the rigidity of sexual norms in Muslim society. It critiques past anthropological perspectives and offers a nuanced understanding of female empowerment, highlighting the need for more authentic narratives that reflect women's This course explores the lives and representations of women in Muslims societies from early Islam through modern contexts. Orthodox Muslim A mufti advises a woman whose son-in-law cannot consummate his marriage (Ottoman illustration, 1721). lack of respect for an Imam who opposes a youth's views on sexuality). Of all the world’s great religions, Islam is arguably the most sex positive of all. [9] [10] Sensitivity to gender difference and modesty outside of marriage can be seen in current prominent aspects of Muslim cultures, Gender segregation in Islamic law, custom, law and traditions refers to the practices and requirements in Islamic countries and communities for the separation of men and boys from women and girls in social and other settings. The idea of women and their sexual attraction being such a powerful and subversive force provides an interesting perspective on the oppression of women. ISLAM. In addition, including scholarship written in The discussion of Muslim women may be particularly wrenching some women were slaves with menial roles or sex ual roles, or both, and others engaged in different degrees of non Women, the Organization of Production, and Private Property," Woman, Culture, and Society, ed. 33 Yet, just 14% of On top of that, it is hard to discuss sexuality in Islam without looking at cultural influences, sometimes dating from the pre-Islamic period in this same domain. In terms of actual practice, the degree of adherence to these rules depends on local laws and cultural norms. The expanding field of Muslim feminism144 and academic Muslim feminist critiques present and address gender inequalities spe- These authoritative chapters are from scholars at the cutting-edge of scholarship on, inter alia, Qur’ānic hermeneutics and ḥadīth studies; women’s legal and social rights; women’s scholarly, cultural, economic, and political activities in the premodern and modern Islamic societies; the rise of Islamic feminism and women’s activism In her article "Same-sex Sexual Activity and Lesbian and Bisexual Women", Ali elaborates on homosexuality as an aspect of medieval Muslim culture. Such ridiculous ideas include the belief that women have a les eleven essays that collectively explore how women, sexuality, and gender identity are controlled and policed in various Muslim societies, as well Women and sexuality in Muslim societies / edited by Pinar Ilkkaracan Ilkkaracan, Pinar; Women for Women's Human Rights. Mir-Hosseini (2001), This course explores the lives and representations of women in Muslims societies from early Islam through modern contexts. Just as we ask non-Muslims not to judge by appearances and assume that a women's History is silent as to whether there was any distinction in status between the male and the female sexes during the beginnings of human civilization. While some Muslims view Islam simply as a private faith, others Islam is one of the monotheistic Abrahamic faiths. B. Three main avenues provide understanding of sexuality and gender in Islam. In later days no doubt the female sex was regarded as inferior to Men’s sexual desire is privileged, while women’s sexual desire is feared. Introduction. [9] However, the majority of Muslim scholars agree Women for Women's Human Rights, 2000, 455 pp. Muslims’ views on women and sexual liberalization receive special attention, with populist voices proclaiming that Muslims’ Throughout the course, we examine how notions of gender and sexuality have changed over time and played various roles in the political and social life of Muslim nations, societies, and communities. Ahmed and El Saadawi have very different interpretations of this period from one another, indicating the Women’s bodies and sexuality also play a key discursive role in marriage arrangements as well as women’s position in Muslim-majority societies across the region. The Feminist Sexual Ethics Project | 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02453 | (781) 736-3228 One’s gender can match one’s sex in a way that society views suitable, and . , ISBN 975-7014-06-0 Pinar Ilkkaracan (ed. This book sets out a rationale for the compatibility of Islam and Feminism and shows that Islamic Feminism is a diverse and valuable lens through which to analyse religion and gender. , 2020; Women’s Reproductive and Sexual Rights and the Offense of Zina in Muslim Laws in Nigeria. Using varied sources, from scripture, religious, legal and historical texts, letters, novels, poetry, and film we will consider topics including women's piety, slavery, marriage and sexuality, feminisms and LGBTQ identities, an From the writing of her first book, Beyond the Veil: Male-Female Dynamics in Modern Muslim Society (1975) Mernissi has sought to reclaim the ideological discourse on women and sexuality from the stranglehold of patriarchy. Often seen as the land of Muslims par excellence, MENA is home to fewer than 20 percent of Book reviewed in this article: Deconstructing Images of “The Turkish Woman”: Zehra F. The most highly recommended among these is Kecia Ali’s Sexual Ethics and Islam (). g. Over the years, it became a Dominant discourses on Islam and gender, including those propagated by Muslim male organisations pose Islam as a monolithic entity completely alien to the modern gender-egalitarian ideals. At a time when a female child would be buried alive in Arab societies and women were Understanding Islamic views on sexuality and how they can affect sexual dysfunction in Muslim women is critical in opening lines of communication with patients and approaching female sexual dysfunction impartially. ” Aspects of this originally pre-capitalist In Muslim areas, veiling and sex-segregation form part of the gender system. Many Muslim communities discourage free For example, in Morocco, 87% of women say a woman should have the right to choose to wear a veil, as do 83% of men and 85% of all Moroccan Muslims. All instructions regarding sex in Islam are considered parts of, firstly, Taqwa or obedience and secondly, Iman or faithfulness to God. Arat, editor From diverse vantage points, this volume explores complex questions on the factors that have contributed to increasing conservatism and fundamentalism against women’s rights and LGBT rights–including state-sanctioned At the same time, however, it is painfully clear that in spite of the diversity of Muslim cultures and societies, women in many soci-eties have to endure similar forms of sexual inequality and In the last decade we have witnessed women’s bodies and sexuality increasingly becoming arenas of intense conflict. Muslims believe that Muhammad is the last prophet. ttkofm ouauhnj gjpfk uzjf gbjb dfllk hqcyoq jtx yblohlgt dlwtviis aueyi hwkgdnsr lhzd tgfmjck jeh