original web document: http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~brvs/women.html Barbara R. von SchlegellOffice: 212 Logan Hall Telephone:
(215) 898-5838Facsimile: (215) 898-6568 E-mail: brvs@ccat.sas.upenn.edu |
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Topics in Islamic Religion and Society: Women in Islam Religious Studies 49 (Women's Studies 49) |
Course Description Since medieval times, nothing about Islam has perplexed the West more than the role of women. We consider the current Western view of Muslim women as victims before reading translated Islamic texts on gender and historical evidence of womens religious and social activities since the sixth century. These works include the Eve and Virgin Mary narratives in the Quran, legalist works on the ideal Muslim wife and mother, and biographies of women warriors, political leaders, religious scholars and Sufi mystics. Muslim apologists and feminists use such materials in varying ways. Attitudes toward the body--involving sexuality, purity, fertility and seclusion--will be examined in a comparative context. Finally, we look at how womens economic power and their participation in modern revivalist movements are bringing about new identities for Muslim women worldwide. |
Course Requirements and Evaluation
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Syllabus All textbooks, and many others on Islamic topics, are on reserve for this class under "von Schlegell" in Rosengarten Reading Room, Van Pelt Library. Textbooks for purchase are listed below under "Readings." Unless otherwise stated, all textbooks are available for purchase at the Penn Book Center, 3726 Walnut Street Telephone 222-7600 The Bulkpack is for available for purchase at University Copy Service, Houston HallTelephone 898-5320 or 898-5574
Course Outline
Week I: Introduction: Islam and Muslim Women Film "The Smithsonian World of Islam" Readings
Week II: Women in Islamic History Part One: The Family of the Prophet, Women in Early Politics and Society Readings
Week III: Women in Islamic History Part Two: Muhaddithat (women scholars of the hadith), faqihat (women scholars of Islamic Law), and Women in the Sufi Movement Readings
Week IV: Women and the Economy From Early Islam to Modern Times Readings
Week V: Male and Female: Can God be Gendered? Can Human Experience be Gendered? Journal due Film: "In Her Own Time" Readings
Week VI: Quranic Women Female Figures in the Quran: Reception and Modern Reinterpretation of Scripture First Paper due Readings
Week VII: Sexuality in Islam Circumcision, Menstruation,Virginity, and Illicit Sex Readings
Week VIII: Muslim Family Life: Marriage, Birth Control and Abortion, Giving Birth, and Divorce Journal due Film: "The Price of Change" Readings
Week IX: Woman to Woman Religious Lives, Sex Segregation and Parallel Society, Pilgrimage Film "Guests of God" Reading
Week X: Harem Western Fantasy, "Our Moslem Sisters" and Orientalism Readings
Week XI: What Does a Veil Mean? Modesty and Islamic Dress Film "The Veiled Revolution" Readings
Week XII: "Fundamentalist" Women Spiritual and Political Revival in the Late 20th Century Journal due Film: "Door to the Sky" (evening session with banquet) Readings
Week XII: Second paper due |
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