Beyond Western Feminism: Islamic Feminist Ideologies And Muslim Women's Agency In A Woman Is No Man

Abstract

This paper aims to analyse how Muslim women and patriarchal societies are represented in A Woman Is No Man using the theory of Islamic feminism. Feminist ideology has been dominated by the West and has ignored the role and experience of women who are deeply embedded in religious culture and traditions. Islamic feminism acts as a counter discourse to Western feminism that advocates gender justice by reinterpreting scriptures and challenging patriarchal interpretations of religion. This study is based on the works of various scholars such as Amina Wadud, Asma Barlas, Fatima Mernissi, and others. A close reading of the novel exposes themes such as trauma, diasporic identity, patriarchal power, and the resistance of women. Through the characters of Isra, Deya, and Fareeda, the paper examines how silence and tradition affect the lives of women. However, the paper also argues how women can resist oppression through education, self-reflection, and a new understanding of their religious beliefs. By contextualizing the novel within the debate surrounding Orientalism and Western perceptions of Muslim women, the paper examines the role of literature in subverting stereotypes and representations of Muslim women’s agency. Ultimately, the paper aims to show that Islamic feminism offers a different perspective of the agency of Muslim women in literature.