Course Description

In recent years Muslim women have been gaining increasing attention in the Western media. George Bush partly used liberating Afghan women as justification for starting the war there. France’s ban on headscarves incited debate about religious expression and its place in the public sphere. But what about the over 400 million people who practice Islam in Africa? What does Islam mean to female practitioners on this continent? How do they impact how this religion is practiced in their home countries and elsewhere? How does their gender shape their religious practices, and how does being Muslim shape what it means to be a woman in these contexts?

Why study this topic?

This course examines the lived experience of Muslim women in North and West Africa. We will explore a variety of issues that are significant to contemporary Muslim women including work, marriage, economic development, community, and family asking how their religious beliefs and practices impact these aspects of their lives and vice versa. An underlying question that we will explore throughout the class is how and whether Muslim women exercise agency and how their religion constrains or empowers them. We will also examine the diversity and complexity of what it means to be Muslim and female in Africa. This course is interdisciplinary in nature, drawing from African Studies, anthropology, history, and women’s studies. We will also use novels and primary sources to help us gain insight into how women understand their faiths and lives. Your main assignment will involve drafting a major research paper, which will be an opportunity for you to explore a topic that particularly interests you.

Developing a well-rounded understanding of some of the issues that Muslim women face in Africa and how their faith impacts their lives will be important skills for you if you are considering working in the nonprofit sector, public policy, international development work, or pursuing a higher degree in the humanities or social sciences. Furthermore, this course will familiarize you with the diversity of Muslim experiences which will help you to develop a more complex understanding of this faith, combat harmful stereotypes, and become a more informed and engaged global citizen.