The Legacy of Fatima Mernissi: Feminism, Islam, and Politics

Undergraduate / Graduate

Moroccan writer and sociologist Fatima Mernissi (1940-2015) is widely recognized as one of the most prominent Islamic feminists, whose legacy continues to be celebrated in North Africa, the Middle East, and beyond. Through a body of work that encompasses fictional autobiography, historical inquiry, sociopolitical critique, and religious reinterpretation, she engaged in a double critique of patriarchal structures within Muslim societies and Western dominant frameworks, aiming to advance women's rights, challenge stereotypical representations of gender roles, and promote an alternative reading of Islamic texts and traditions. This course examines her most influential works and considers her intellectual legacy across disciplines.