WMST 379 - Muslim Feminist and Womanist thought and Praxis

1 1 unit(s)

(Same as RELI 379) This seminar explores the work of Muslim thinkers and activists who critically take up issues of gender and sexuality in Islamic contexts. These thinkers, who often identify as feminist or womanist, challenge Western feminist orthodoxies as well as certain religious frameworks, drawing on Islamic traditions in order to imagine and work towards a capacious gender justice. We read feminist and womanist interpretation of Qur’an and hadith, Islamic history, theology, ethics, spirituality and law, and explore how Muslim gender activists in a range of global contexts relate to intellectual traditions of Islamic feminism. We consider the interventions of Muslim feminists and womanists for gender theory and activism more broadly. Key themes include marriage, parenthood, and divorce, religious authority, colonialism and race, tradition, political activism, spiritual practice, and history of sexuality. Kirsten Wesselhoeft.

Prerequisite(s): One 200-level course in Religion or Women’s Studies or permission of the instructor.

One 2-hour period.

Not offered in 2021/22.

Course Format: CLS