MR557: Women in Islam (4 units)
Evelyne
A. Reisacher, Assistant Professor of Islamic Studies
Fall 2004 Pasadena
DESCRIPTION:
This
course examines the varieties of identities and roles of women in historic and contemporary
Islam as evidenced by the Qur'an, the Traditions, the Law, and current writings
and experience, and the implications of these for interacting with Muslims.
Some of the topics dealt with are the religious role and status of Muslim
women, their social status, their place in the family, their participation in
the Muslim society, and the current debates about gender issues in Islam. The
course will also cover various Christian perspectives on Muslim women.
LEARNING
OUTCOMES:
• Knowledge
of the major Qur'anic texts dealing with women, as well as passages from the
Hadith and Shariah Law.
• Identify
issues that Muslim women face and locate them in historical and cultural
contexts.
• Develop
awareness of the variety of interpretations concerning the status of Muslim
women given by Muslims and Christians.
• Gain
new perspectives for interaction with Muslim women.
• Ability
to reflect on gender issues in Islam from a Biblical perspective.
COURSE
FORMAT:
The class will combine lectures, group discussions,
interactive participation, and video and audio presentations. The class meets
in an intensive format.
ASSIGNMENTS:
• 1,500
pages of reading from the required and recommended reading lists. Students will
choose four books from these lists and write a 300-word review on each (30% of
grade).
• Class
participation, small group work and attendance (20% of grade).
• A
3500-word paper, double-spaced, on an approved topic related to the course (50%
of grade).
• ThM
students will be required to add 1500 pages to the paper
PREREQUISITES:
None.
RELATIONSHIP
TO CURRICULUM: Elective.
FINAL
EXAM: None.