ISLAMIC FEMINISM in HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE (2 Credits)

Islamic Feminism Nadia Jones-Gailani

ISLAMIC FEMINISM IN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE (2 credits)

Nadia Jones-Gailani

Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Gender Studies

Office: 509B, Zrini 14

Course Description

This 2- credit course focuses on the theories, political goals, strategies and activism(s) of Islamic feminists regionally and nationally, within the context of the emerging global feminist movement. Following the rise of second wave feminism in the developing world, there have been a number of responses to the inherent marginalization of women of colour and devout women from this movement. As part of a much broader trend in post-colonial feminisms, Islamic feminism is part of a global and diverse response through women’s political organizations both in Islamic countries and as part of non-Islamic nations, to contribute equally to the development of civil society, social equality and a feminist re-interpretation of the Qu'ran. We will discuss how these women promote gender equality, social justice, and peaceful coexistence with all other races and religions based on a feminist reading of the sacred texts. We will look at how and why this form of expression has developed, and how an alternate theory of feminism is possible within a religion that frequently comes under attack for the perception that it undermines the position of women in the Arab world. We will explore how advocates of cultural relativism endorse theocratic gender relations in an effort to respect intersectional differences amongst women. Our goal by the end of the term is to determine how it is possible to foster a dialogue between secular and religious feminisms, by adopting a postcolonial feminist lens and focusing not only on the feminist praxis of Islamic feminism, but also the ways in which it offers a solution to global systems of inequality.

Questions to Consider

Is there an ‘organic’ Islamic feminism, or has this form of feminist interpretation developed in response to the colonial interpretation of secular/Western feminists writing on women the Muslim world?

Can we redefine feminism as an ideology (or praxis) situated in diverse regional and organizational contexts, in order to create a ‘space’ for Islamic feminism alongside mainstream Western feminisms?

Should feminism prioritize adherence to all human rights over religion and religious considerations? And if not, are there perhaps, many ways of ‘being’ a feminist?

How credible or effective are models of progress offered by Western women? And to that end, how can we bring Western and post-colonial feminists to the table in order to debate issues that impact the lives of Muslim women?

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

·  Understand Islamic feminism as a diverse movement that reflects many varied streams of interpretation and understanding of gender values and theory based on the breadth of experiences of Muslim women globally.

·  Appreciate the complex interplay of religious, nationalist and ethnic issues in shaping and manipulating gender identity in Islamic communities and states

·  Identify major feminist approaches to Islam, including text-based praxis, transnational ideological mobilization, and theory ranging across Marxist, nationalist, and religious fundamentalist areas of study.

·  Understand Islamic feminist practices within the context of the transnational feminist movement against capitalism/globalization.

·  Recognize key issues in the Western liberal feminist debate and understand how and why these have been detrimental to a number of groups, including Muslim religious women.

Course Organization

The course is designed to be an intensive discussion-based seminar for graduate students. I like to think about this course syllabus as a contract with each student – if you accept the contract at the beginning of the term, I take this to mean that you agree to complete all components of the course. Weekly readings are a key part of making this a successful seminar discussion for all participants – please complete ALL of the reading before coming to class. This is a reading and writing-intensive course – there are no midterm or final exams.

How you participate in this course will determine a large portion of your grade – more than 30% of your overall grade for the course. Please take the readings and course discussions seriously – prepare for class, complete the readings in advance, and participate as much as possible. You are permitted ONE free absence in the class, however, you are also required to provide documentation for each unexcused absence – please email me or come and visit me in my office if you have concerns about your attendance.

In class, we will discuss in greater detail the writing assignments for this course, and I will also provide a detailed breakdown of the requirements of each assignments on the course website in advance of the due date.

Course Assignments and Grading

Class Participation 30%

Book Review 20%

Film Critique 20%

Final Reflection Paper 30%

Course Requirements and Grading

Class Participation (30%)

This is a discussion-based course, and therefore you must come to class in order to receive a participation grade. If you do not come to class, you cannot pass this course. Should you be forced to miss class, you can “make up” one class throughout the term by writing a 1000-word analysis of the assigned readings for that week. You may not make up more than one missed class. Make-up work must be handed in to the instructor during the class period following the meeting you missed. If you anticipate missing classes (including for religious observances) please get in touch with me as soon as possible.

You should arrive for class having completed the reading and prepared to engage in a discussion of the material with your colleagues. Simply showing up and sitting silently in class is not considered participation, and you will not receive participation points for doing so. You must take an active part in classroom discussion and in-class activities. You are expected to contribute to EVERY CLASS DISCUSSION, and failure to do so will negatively affect your grade.

This course deals with sensitive and controversial material – especially given the current political climate in the U.S. and the long history of American imperialism that has shaped many of the developments we will discuss. I ask that you show every person in the classroom the same kind of courtesy and respect that you expect in return, REGARDLESS of colour, creed, sexuality or religious background. You are encouraged to share your background and experiences in class, therefore it is imperative that we maintain a free and warm intellectual environment so that we can provide the same respect to each and every individual student.

Book Review (20%)

For this assignment, you will read and critique Irshad Manji’s book, The Trouble with Islam Today following our class discussion on her work and its place within the discourse on Islam and women/women in Islam. Before you begin the assignment, please look at examples of scholarly book reviews first to get a sense of the format – we will also discuss this in detail during our class. In addition to Manji’s text, you are also required to employ two scholarly, peer-reviewed, book reviews of her work, and write your own review based on your reading of the text as well as the ways in which others have engaged with, or been enraged by, this culturally significant work. Your review should be no more than 6-8 pages in length.

Film Critique (20%)

Based on the film adaptation of Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolic (vol I), you will write a critical reflection of the film, with a particular focus on what kinds of information are provided, what kinds of methodologies are employed, how the author responds to Islam in Iran and what this means for her own personal brand of feminism, in addition to what you consider to be the message of the film for multiple and diverse audiences. A more detailed description of this assignment will be available on the course website. The film critique paper should be no longer than 6-8 pages in length.

The film can be found streaming free of charge on YouTube – be sure to find a copy with suitable subtitles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJbbU6AN2BY

Final Reflection Paper (30%)

For the final assignment of the course, you will pick one of the weekly topics and reflect upon how the readings address two or more of the major questions/themes in the course. In the paper, you should draw from the assigned as well as the suggested readings for that week – no additional research or sources are required. The paper should be approximately 8-10 pages in length, and adhere to the writing guidelines outlined below in the syllabus. We will discuss the paper in further detail during our class.

Writing Guidelines

All written material must be printed in 12-point font (Times New Roman, Arial) and double-spaced, with page numbers included at the bottom of the page. Provide full references for all literature cited, including those on our syllabus. If you are unsure about rules for citations, and avoiding plagiarism, please see the Center for Academic Writing or the course instructor. Assignments must be submitted in hard copy AND uploaded to the e-learning site (unless we agree otherwise). Please print double-sided. Electronic documents must indicate your name and which assignment it is in the file name. And remember to back up your files so you don’t have to repeat your work!

Policy on electronic devices in class

You may work from a laptop or large tablet in class to take notes and/or access readings in electronic form unless this becomes too disruptive, at which point we will change the policy. Do NOT do this with a mobile phone. Phones must be switched off or on mute and must not be taken out during class.

Late Penalties

Students should make every effort to have in assignments, essays, and all other coursework by the date stated on the syllabus. I am willing to discuss the possibility of an extension for essays if you contact me a week in advance of the due date. Late assignments are subject to a 2% deduction per day until the assignment is handed in to the instructor.

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism will not be tolerated – any instance of plagiarism will automatically result in an “F” for the assignment and potentially an failing grade in the course. Please see the regulations on academic integrity as they are outlined by CEU:

You are responsible for knowing and adhering to these regulations, and understanding the consequences of your actions if you are in violation of any of them.

Here are guidelines for all scholarly/written work (created by Todd D. Shepard):

1. All written work submitted for credit is accepted as your own work. It may not have been composed, wholly or partially, by another person.

2. I encourage you to incorporate ideas from books and essays in your work as starting points, governing issues, illustrations, and the like, but in each case the source must be cited.

3. The wording of written work is taken as your own. Scholarly work, almost by definition, will include other writers’ phrases, sentences, or paragraphs. All of these—even if it’s only a key word or several words--must be presented as quotations and with the source acknowledged. Thus you may not submit work that has been copied, wholly or partially, from a book, article, essay, newspaper, another student’s paper or notebook, internet site, or any other written or printed media source unless you use proper citation.

4. The ideas, arguments, and conclusions of written work are accepted as originating with you, the writer. Written work that paraphrases any written or printed media material without explicit acknowledgement (N.B.: even if the source is cited in a footnote) may not be submitted for credit.

5. Remember that any on-line materials you use to gather information for a paper are also governed by rules about plagiarism, so you need to learn to cite electronic sources as well as printed and other sources.

6. You may correct and revise your writing with the aid of reference books and other sources. You may also discuss your writing with peer writing groups, peer tutors, other professors, or other people more generally. However, you may not submit writing that has been revised substantially by another.

Respect in the Classroom

This is a class that encourages critical thinking, so we must expect differences of opinion. The classroom is a safe space for each student to express themselves and their relevant opinions without suffering any kind of derisive comments from other students.

Please arrive on time, and if this is not possible, notify the instructor by email prior to the beginning of class.

Turn off mobile phones/smart phones – it is extremely disrespectful to other members of the class if you check emails, texts, messages, etc., during class time.

LECTURE THEMES, ASSIGNMENTS AND READINGS

Please have your reader/readings with you in each class for reference. All assigned texts as well as additional texts for further reading are available on the e-learning site. The course instructor reserves the right to change any of the readings during the term.

PART I: THEORIZING WOMEN IN ISLAM

Week 1: Introduction (September 22)

Suggested review: