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141002 SE Feminism: History, Concepts, Approaches (2025S)

8.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 14 - Orientalistik, Afrikanistik, Indologie und Tibetologie
Continuous assessment of course work
Tu 11.03. 11:30-13:00 Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Orientalistik UniCampus 1F-O1-3842

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 30 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Tuesday 18.03. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Orientalistik UniCampus 1F-O1-3842
  • Tuesday 25.03. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Orientalistik UniCampus 1F-O1-3842
  • Tuesday 01.04. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Orientalistik UniCampus 1F-O1-3842
  • Tuesday 08.04. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Orientalistik UniCampus 1F-O1-3842
  • Tuesday 29.04. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Orientalistik UniCampus 1F-O1-3842
  • Tuesday 06.05. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Orientalistik UniCampus 1F-O1-3842
  • Tuesday 13.05. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Orientalistik UniCampus 1F-O1-3842
  • Tuesday 20.05. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Orientalistik UniCampus 1F-O1-3842
  • Tuesday 27.05. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Orientalistik UniCampus 1F-O1-3842
  • Tuesday 03.06. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Orientalistik UniCampus 1F-O1-3842
  • Tuesday 10.06. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Orientalistik UniCampus 1F-O1-3842
  • Tuesday 17.06. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Orientalistik UniCampus 1F-O1-3842
  • Tuesday 24.06. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Orientalistik UniCampus 1F-O1-3842

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Course Description:

The seminar will familiarize students with the major features of the history of Arab feminism and central concepts around it. We will discuss the modes of integration of feminism in the Near East into the global feminist movement. The seminar will also cover the debate between Islamic and secular feminisms. On the one hand, we will discuss anti-patriarchal interpretations of the Qur'an, which root feminism within Islam and apply methodologies that allow reading and interpreting religious texts against patriarchal perceptions. On the other hand, we will discuss the scholarship that is critical of feminist Islamic approach and instead speaks of feminism from secularist perspective. The seminar will also shed light on the following themes: policies of veiling and their perceptions in various contexts; interaction of Muslim law and human rights in the context of women’s rights; women’s role and activism during the Arab Spring, and the emergence of a new wave of feminism. Some sessions offer looking at specific countries and contexts and discuss pertinent themes through case studies (such as Egypt, Iran, Western countries). Throughout the seminar, we will touch upon concepts such as gender, postcolonialism, and secularism.

Learning Outcome:
After successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• Understand the essence of debates between global and Islamic feminism
• Understand the different hermeneutics of Islamic and secular feminisms and contradictory approaches to religious texts
• Assess the complex interaction of religion, secularism, and feminism.
• Contextualize feminism within regional differences and unities

Assessment and permitted materials

Active participation in the class
Seminar leading questions
Final paper

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Assessment:
• Active participation and reading: 30%:
Each student is expected to attend the seminar regularly, prepared with readings. The course is heavily based on discussion; therefore, students are expected to read and discuss intensively.

• Discussion leading: 30%:
Each student will be assigned to take over a discussion leading for a session. This means the student must send 4 discussion questions to the group via e-mail or Moodle at least a day before the seminar. We will discuss the session based on these questions.

• Final Research Paper: 40%
Each student must submit a final research paper based on final paper proposal that needs to be submitted to and agreed with the instructor in advance. The paper should be around 10-15 pages (font 12, double spaced, plus bibliography).

Examination topics

Assessment will be by way of participation, class presentation and final paper.

Reading list

• General Readings:
- Ahmed, Leila. Women and gender in Islam: historical roots of a modern debate. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1992.
- Badran, Margot. Feminism in Islam: Secular and Religious Convergences. One World: Oxford, 2009.
- Barlas, Asma. Believing Women in Islam: Unreading Patriarchal Interpretation of the Qur’an. Austin: University of Texas, 2002.
- Mernissi. Fatima. Women and Islam: an historical and theological enquiry. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1991
- Stowasser, Barbara Freyer, Women in the Qur'an, Traditions, and Interpretation New York: Oxford University Press, 2011.
- Wadud, Amina. Qurʼan and woman: rereading the sacred text from a woman's perspective. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999.

Association in the course directory

WM-2, WM-14

Last modified: Su 19.01.2025 21:25