REL 465: GENDER IN ISLAM Professor Tazim R. Kassam Mon/Wed 3:45-5:05 in 101 Slocum Office Hours: Tue pm Spring 2010

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1 REL 465: GENDER IN ISLAM Professor Tazim R. Kassam Mon/Wed 3:45-5:05 in 101 Slocum Office Hours: Tue pm Spring 2010 PLEASE NOTE: This is a tentative List of Topics & Readings. The schedule and readings may change based on our progress. The required texts are listed below. Other readings will be posted on Blackboard. The videos we will watch are also readings. REQUIRED TEXTS Ruthven, Malise, Islam: A very short Introduction (Oxford: 1997). Wadud, Amina, Qur'an and Woman (Oxford University Press: 1992). Fatima Mernissi, The Veil and the Male Elite (Basic Books: 1992). Firoozeh Dumas, Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America (Villard Books: 2003). Understanding Islam and the Muslims: The Muslim Family, Islam and World Peace edited by by T.J.Winter and John A.Williams (Fons Vitae: 2002). COURSE REQUIREMENTS Attendance: 10% 2% off for each absence Lead discussion (thrice): 25% Instructions given in class Weekly Reflection Papers: 35% Due Sat 9.00 a.m. - 2% for each missed paper Research Paper: 40% Due: Mon May 10, 9.00 a.m. Outline & Bibliography Due: Wed Mar 10 in class 1

2 TENTATIVE SCHEDULE Jan 20 Introduction to Course Jan 25 & 27 Islam: A Brief Primer Kassam, Tazim, Response to Margaret Miles Feminist Religious History in Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion, Spring 2006, Vol 22:1, pp Ruthven, Malise, Islam: A very short Introduction (Oxford: 1997) Chapter 1 & 2. Understanding Islam and the Muslims: The Muslim Family, Islam and World Peace edited by T.J.Winter and John A.Williams (Fons Vitae: 2002). Read all. Video: Islam: Christian Science Monitor 60 min Feb 1 & 3 Women & Religion: Is Islam the exception? Definitions: feminism; agency; gender etc. Schmidt, A. J. Culture: The Hidden Dimension in Veiled and Silenced: How Culture Shaped Sexist Theology (Mercer University Press: 1989) Rita Gross, Defining Feminism, Religion, and the Study of Religion, in Feminism & Religion (Beacon Press: 1996) pp Video: Women Serving Religion (29 min) Feb 8 & 10 The Gaze: Orientalism & Liberalism Who s veiling whom? Lila Abu-Lughod, Do Muslim Women Need Saving? in American Anthropology 104(3) Hoda Hoodfar The Veil in their Mind and on Our Heads Women, Gender and Religion ed. E. Castelli, (Palgrave: 2001) Video: Veiled Revolution 26 min 2

3 Feb 15 & 17 Textual Authority and Authorities So what did God really say about women? Wadud, Amina, Qur'an and Woman (Oxford University Press: 1992). Stowasser, Barbara, Women in the Qur'an, Traditions, and Interpretation (New York and Oxford: 1994) pp Roald Feminist Reinterpretation of Islamic Sources in Women and Islamization ed. K. Ask and M. Tjomsland (New York: Berg, 1998) pp Video: Islamic Conversations - Leila Ahmed 30 min Feb 22 & 24 What did Muhammad say/do? How do we know? Who s we? Fatima Mernissi, The Veil and the Male Elite (Basic Books: 1992). Video Hijab: Act of Faith 37 min (Video: PBS: Legacy of the Prophet 2 hr! Maybe) Feb 22 & 24 Did Eve cause Adam s fall? Bodies of Desire Hassan, R, Muslim Women and Post-Patriarchal Islam in After Patriarchy: Feminist Transformations of the World Religions edited by P. Cooey, W. R. Eakin and J. B. (x:1991) pp Khuri, Fuad I. The Human Body: A Religious View in The Body in Islamic Culture (London: Saqi Books: 2001) pp Mar 1 & 3 Instructions on using/taming my body Making (family) laws (shariah) Esposito, John Esposito Islamic Family Law (Oxford, 2002 pp Leila Ahmed, Early Islam and the Position of Women: The Problem of Interpretation in Women in Middle Eastern History edited by... (x: x) pp Awn, Peter J. Indian Islam: The Shah Bano Affair in Fundamentalism and Gender edited by John Stratton Hawley (Oxford University Press, 1994) pp Video: Beyond the Veil - Iranian challenge (22 min) 3

4 Mar 8 & 10 Speaking in words and buildings Women inscribed in history Leila Ahmed (above) Smith, Margaret, Rabi a and Other Women Mystics of Islam, Oneworld, 1994 reprint, pp.1-50 Deghuilem, Randi, Consciousness of Self: The Muslim Woman as Creator and Manager of Waqf Foundations in Late Ottoman Damascus, in Beyond the Exotic: Women s Histories in Islamic Societies ed. Amira Sonbol, 2005:SUP Mar 22 & 24 ********* Mar 15 & 17 S P R I N G B R E A K ********* Battle cry: Jihad is Gender Equality Agency in Islamic Feminism cooke, miriam, Chapter 3, Reviewing Beginning, in Women Claim Islam: Creating Islamic Feminism through Literature, (Routledge: 2001) pp Hossain, Rokeya, Sultana s Dream and Selections by from The Secluded Ones, ed. & trans by Roushan Jahan, (Feminist Press1988) vii Fernea, Elizabeth, In Search of Islamic Feminism: One Woman s Global Journey, Chapter 9, United States: Coming Home, (Anchor Books: 1998) pp Mar 29 & 31 Agency: Social Movements Mahmood, Saba, Politics of Piety (Princeton: 2005) (Egypt - Women s mosque movement) Ahmad, Sadaf, Transforming Faith (SUP: 2009) (Pakistan - al-huda movement) Video: Class of 2006: Morocco s Female Religious Leaders 60 min April 5 & 7 New voices and visions Fiction, art, humor Firoozeh Dumas, Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America (Villard Books: 2003). Shirin Neshat Women Without Men (feature film 2009) Video: Expressing the Inexpressible: Shirin Neshat 42 min Video: Stand-up Comedy Arabs Gone Wild (Maybe Miriam Satrapi s Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood) 4

5 TBA: April 12 & 14; April 19 & 21; April 26 & 28; May 3 Before Spring Break, you will get an updated schedule listing the topics and required readings for the second half of the semester. The list may include your suggestions. Please don t skip or skim the following section. Rules aren t always fun, but by knowing them, you ll save yourself (and us ) some grief. UNIVERSITY RULES Academic Integrity Syracuse University believes that promoting academic honesty is the responsibility of everyone in the Syracuse University community. We expect all students enrolled in Syracuse University programs to adhere to standards of academic integrity. All cases of academic dishonesty will be reported to the relevant Dean in the home College or School for that given course. Penalties will be dependent upon the seriousness of the infraction, and can be appealed to the relevant College/School Academic Integrity Committee. To learn more about SU s policy, go to My short version: The penalty of plagiarism in this course is an F grade. It s simple: don t copy, don t modify, don t lift phrases or ideas. Learn how to give full credit. Essentially, plagiarism is a combination of stealing and lying. Don t do it. To learn what plagiarism means practically speaking, go to this great resource at Indiana University: Disability Syracuse University is committed to full compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and with the Americans with Disabilities Act of Our community values diversity and seeks to promote meaningful access to educational opportunities for all students. Students seeking disability- related services must contact the The Office of Disability Services at Syracuse University, Room 309, 804 University Avenue, Syracuse, New York My short version: I would like to make every effort to support you and create a positive learning environment for you. In order to do make necessary accommodations, however, SU requires you to be registered at the Office of Disability Services ( ) and bring me an Authorization letter from ODS. (I d try to help anyway, letter or not). 5

6 Texting: Texting, twittering, ing or surfing means you are not paying attention. Plus, you are distracting nearby students. If I catch you, I will ask you to leave and count you as absent. Cell phones must be turned off. Laptops may be used for taking notes only. You must get my permission and them to me at the end of class. Etiquette: No stretched feet on desks or chairs. Encourage others to express their views; many are shy. Disagree respectfully. Listen to each other. Learn their names. Don t fall asleep (a special problem when watching videos). This is a late afternoon class. Get enough rest before it. Vignettes from Marjane Satrapi s Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return (Pantheon Books: 2004) pp 17, 27, 49. QuickTime and a decompressor are needed to see this picture. QuickTime and a decompressor are needed to see this picture. QuickTime and a decompressor are needed to see this picture. 6