Feminism As Islamophobia Essay

Women’s equality has come a long way since the 20th century when they were first granted the right to vote. Feminism, believing in the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes, is becoming a worldwide phenomenon supported by the most powerful and influential women. However, some countries such as Saudi Arabia still deprive women of such equality. Women are still not allowed to drive and are required to have a male guardian. Some Saudi women have spoken against their countries laws, and others do not support changing women’s roles because they think of Saudi Arabia as a purely Islamic country. There is no doubt Saudi Arabia holds a great place in the Islamic religion because it is where the two Holy Mosques are, and is where pilgrimage

In this article he talks about “gendered Islamophobia”, the hatred of Islam from women, and how women are starting to be against Islam due to the laws and rules it sets that limit women’s freedom and creates an obstacle for equality. The author then answers the false claims by saying that Islam is the most supportive and respectful of women of the three main religions. Also, it discusses how any limitations that Muslim feminists face is due to the misinterpretation and misuse of the Islamic laws and traditions. There is another source, When Islam and Feminism Converge, by Fatima Seedat that supports these points. This article mentions the positives of being a Muslim woman and a feminist because both aspects together can be very beneficial and can actually move women closer to achieving their goal of gender equality. A second article by Fatima Seedat also distinguishes between Islam and feminism, but it looks at Islamic feminism and international feminism. She is arguing that both inform women of their rights however, the western influences mislead Islamic feminists into believing in new definitions of gender equality that go against Islam’s