Souad & Silverman/Subjugated Voices, 3. Aspects of Old and New Approaches to Feminism in Islam: A Focus on the Middle East

Souad T. Ali’s “Aspects of Old and New Approaches to Feminism in Islam: A Focus on the Middle East” identifies and discusses what she posits as three significant approaches to feminism within Middle Eastern societies with a particular focus on Egypt. There have been several reactions to feminism in the region. Some argue that feminism in Egypt emerged as a response to the British occupation in 1882 and feminist movements in the country date back to the 1890s, thus establishing feminism as a traditionally Arab concept. Others argue that the word feminism should not be used at all. Similarly, women differ in how they view the Arab world’s interaction with “Western” feminism. These arguments have evolved throughout time, leading to three major groups of feminist thought in the Middle East: Islamic feminism, secular feminism, and Islamist feminism. One common theme found throughout the groups is that female subjugation is not inherent in the Qur’an. That being said, each group differs on where they believe patriarchal tendencies come from. This chapter examines each argument and discusses the merits and criticisms relating to each school of thought, effectively analyzing old and new approaches to feminist issues in Egypt within the context of the Middle East.