Muslim and Jewish Women Between Feminism and Religion

For over fifty years, a debate has been raging among feminists, Muslim and Jewish women, as well as scholars of religion and the Middle East on the extent to which feminism and religion can coexist. The proposed presentation will explore various convergences of religion and feminism, from the 1960s through the growing prominence of Salafi Muslim and Haredi Jewish ultra-orthodox religious movements. After the description of each of five historical developments, questions will be raised to challenge our thinking.

            Five intersections of religion and feminism have developed over the last half-century. Liberal and radical global feminism of the 1960s was detached from and even abjured religion. Islamist and Jewish fundamentalist movements. emerging in the late 1970s, promoted strict interpretations of Islam and Judaism as regards gender issues, and threatened women’s rights. Islamic and Jewish religious feminists attempted to reconcile their belief in Allah and His Prophet, in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, with feminism, from the early 1970s. Some women in Islamist movements exhibited signs of “gender activism” in words and deeds. Most recently the increasing prominence of Salafi and Haredi ultra-orthodox religious movements have raised questions about the activities and views of their female members on behalf of women’s advancement

            Can liberal and radical feminism accommodate religious women? To what extent can Islam and Judaism be reconciled with feminism? How valuable is the term “gender activism” to define some Islamist and Jewish orthodox women? Are there Salafi or Haredi women who may be defined as gender activists?