PBS Frontline Interviews on Women and Islam

[ellisonz]

Women and Islam

Women covered in head scarves and chadors, Islamic divorce rules favoring men, the view that women should be relegated to the private rather than public sphere--these attitudes and practices subjugate women, say critics. Is Islam inherently discriminatory? What is Muslim women's role in the Islamic resurgence? And what does it mean to be a Muslim "feminist?" Here are excerpts from the full interviews with: Nilufer Gole, Amina Wadud and Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf.

Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, Imam of Masjid al-Farah, New York, New York
Nilufer Gole, Professor of Sociology at Bogazici (Bosphorous) University in Istanbul, Turkey
Amina Wadud, Professor of Islamic studies at Virginia Commonwealth University

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/muslims/themes/women.html

[Violet_Crumble]

1. The stuff about the feminist movement was interesting...

Back when I was studying, I read some really good stuff from Islamic feminists, and until then hadn't realised that feminist movements don't have to be exactly like Western feminism...

[MH1]

2. Did this, or will this, air as a TV show?

or is it just the text available at the link? (which I will have to read later, I think)

[ellisonz]

4. I presume that it did air - can't say exactly when.

You can view clips if you have realplayer: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/muslims/

[Alameda]

3. Interesting, but I wish they had included Riffat Hassan

She is very knowledgable.

..... Muslim women often find much support and sympathy in the West so long as they are seen as rebels and deviants within the world of Islam. But many of them begin to realize, sooner or later, that while they have serious difficulties with Muslim culture, they are also not able, for many reasons to identify with Western, secular culture. This realization leads them to feel - at least for a time - isolated and alone. Much attention has been focused, in the Western media and literature, on the sorry plight of Muslim women who are "poor and oppressed" in visible or tangible ways. Hardly any notice has been taken, however, of the profound tragedy and trauma suffered by the self-aware Muslim women of today who are struggling to maintain their religious identity and personal autonomy in the face of the intransigence of Muslim culture, on the one hand, and the imperialism of Western, secular culture, on the other hand.....
excerpted from here:
http://www.religiousconsultation.org/hassan2.htm#western

Here is a link to another one of her articles...Sexism Is Not Islam.

http://www.religiousconsultation.org/hassan.htm#sexism