MR557:
Women in Islam (4 units)
Evelyne
A. Reisacher, Assistant Professor of Islamic Studies and Intercultural
Relations
Summer 2007
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. This course will explore women’s status from a local and
global perspective. It will cover
various Christian perspectives on Muslim women and examine biblical views of
gender as they relate to gender issues in Islam.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Knows the Qur’anic texts dealing with women’s
issues and their interpretations in the collection
of ahadith of al-Bukhari as well as of two Sunni
and two Shii jurists
2. Compares and contrasts Biblical and
Qur’anic texts dealing with women’s issues
3. Identifies issues Muslim women face
and locate them in historical and cultural contexts
4. Develops awareness of the variety of
interpretations concerning the status of Muslim women given by Muslims and
Christians
5. Gains new perspectives for
interactions with Muslim women
6. Discusses gender issues in Islam from
a biblical perspective
COURSE FORMAT:
The class will combine lectures, group discussions,
interactive participation, and video presentations. The class meets as a one
week intensive for 7 hours daily.
REQUIRED
1. Adeney,
Miriam. Daughters of Islam: Building
Bridges with Muslim Women.
2. Ahmed, Leila. Women
and Gender in Islam: Historical Roots of a Modern Debate.
3. Bodman, Herbert L. and Nayereh
Tohidi, eds. Women in Muslim Societies: Diversity within Unity.
4. Stowasser, Barbara Freyer. Women
in the Qur'an, Traditions, and Interpretation.
RECOMMENDED
1. Barazangi,
Nimat Hafez. Woman’s Identity and the Qur’an: A New Reading.
Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2004.
2. Cate, Mary Ann, and Karol Downey,
eds. From Fear to Faith: Muslim and Christian Women.
3. Esposito, John L., with Natana J.
DeLong-Bas. Women in Muslim Family
Law. 2nd ed.
4. Haddad, Yvonne Yazbeck and John L. Esposito,
eds. Islam, Gender and Social Change.
5. Love, Fran, and Jeleta Eckheart,
eds. Longing to Call Them Sisters:
Ministry to Muslim Women.
6. Mallouhi, Christine. Mini-Skirts Mothers and Muslims: Modeling
Spiritual Values in Muslim Culture. Revised ed. Spear Publishers, 1997.
7. Mernissi, Fatima. Beyond the Veil: Male-Female Dynamics in a
Modern Muslim Society. Revised
Edition.
8. Wadud, Amina. Qur’an and Woman: Rereading the Sacred
Text from a Woman’s Perspective.
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. 1,200
pages of reading. Read the four required books and the remaining pages from the
recommended reading list. Write a 300-word review for each book you read using
the guidelines provided in the syllabus (20% of grade)
2. Class presentation, attendance and
participation both in class and in a small group (20% of grade)
3. Write a 2,500-word (~ 10 pages double
spacing) research paper. The student will select one topic out of the four
listed by the professor the first day of class (20% of grade)
4. 600-word reflection paper on
encounters with Muslim women (20%)
5. One quiz testing student’s knowledge
of Qur’anic texts dealing with women’s issues (20%)
6. ThM students will be required to add
1500 words to the paper.
FINAL
EXAM: None.
PREREQUISTES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective.
Last edited: March 2007