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Feminism as Islamophobia: a review of misogyny charges against Islam

Hasan, Md. Mahmudul (2012) Feminism as Islamophobia: a review of misogyny charges against Islam. Intellectual Discourse, 20 (1). pp. 55-78. ISSN 0128-4878

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Abstract

One important feature of Islamophobia is to caricature Islam as misogynistic and oppressive to women and thus to advance imperialist hegemony. This “gendered Islamophobia” stigmatizes the religion even though, compared to other world religions, its treatment of women is arguably preferable and more enlightened. Historically, one treasonous use of feminism has been to misappropriate it in order to serve colonial interests and support imperialist wars of occupation that repress subjugated people including women and children. This article argues that ignorance about, and prejudice against, Islam contribute to portraying it as a misogynistic creed. Wrong notions of Islam lead many feminists in Muslim societies to denigrate Islamic teachings and borrow Western ideas to advance women’s causes. Lampooning Islam and replicating Western feminist ideas in Muslim lands have served neither women nor feminism. Such feminist tendencies rather give a bad name to the women’s rights movement and fuel controversy, anger and resentment among Muslims.

Item Type: Article (Journal)
Additional Information: 6409/24395
Uncontrolled Keywords: Islamophobia, feminism, feminists in Muslim societies, gender justice, women's rights movement
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman > HQ1101 Women. Feminism
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button): Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences > Department of English Language & Literature
Depositing User: Dr. Md. Mahmudul Hasan
Date Deposited: 21 Jun 2012 10:36
Last Modified: 22 Jul 2014 14:48
URI: http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/24395

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