Soul of Islam Series #1 - From Cairo to Cape Town: A brief history of Muslim Feminism

Soul of Islam Series
Number One - From Cairo to Cape Town:
A brief history of Muslim Feminism

Monday, 10 July 2006

Asialink, with the Australian Education Foundation and the Islamic Council of Victoria, launched 2006 Soul of Islam Lecture Series with a presentation by Rachel Woodlock titled From Cairo to Cape Town: A brief history of Muslim feminism.

Ms Woodlock spoke to a large audience in the Carrillo Gantner Theatre about Muslim feminism in both a historical and modern context. She spoke about the practical challenges that feminists face, especially in relation to non-Islamic perceptions.

She recounted the birth of modern feminism in the Muslim world when Huda Sha'rawi, founder of the Egyptian Feminist Union, publicly removed her face-veil in Cairo in 1923. Rachel gave the audience a look at Muslim feminism in the twentieth century by specifically looking at Western-inspired secular feminism, Islamist feminism and the gender-jihad of progressive Muslims.

Rachel has a Master of Islamic Studies and is currently researching Muslim settlement in Australia.

Listen to the recording of Ms Woodlock's presentation [iLecture recording]

Asialink, The University of Melbourne

Soul of Islam Series #1 - From Cairo to Cape Town: A brief history of Muslim Feminism