Women and Gender in Islam

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

This course traces the historical roots of contemporary Muslim discourses over issues pertaining to women and gender. We examine how perceptions of women and gender have been shaped and represented vis-à-vis changing and competing discourses. We read Islamic texts as sites of cultural production, which are shaped by social contexts and communal attitudes. Topics include conflicting representations of Muslim women; questions surrounding feminism and equality; the history and politics of veiling; women’s interpretations of the Qur’an; debates over female-led prayer; and perceptions of same-sex desires and practices. Throughout the course, we reflect on several questions: How does gender shape social and religious authority? In what ways do Muslims’ views of gender and sexuality mirror their cultural fabric and social contexts across time and space? And, how do Muslims use scripture and their intellectual heritage in their attempt to reform laws and deeply rooted practices? By the end of this course you should have an understanding of the complex ways in which Islamic texts address key issues and the diverse ways through which Muslim scholars have interpreted them throughout Muslim history.