At the WISE Conference the veil was glamorized to a point where it almost seemed like a defense of misogyny and patriarchy
By Farzana Hassan
KUALA LUMPUR - The Second Women's Islamic Initiative in Spirituality and Equality (WISE) conference kicked off on July 16 2009 with high hopes.
Eminent women from all walks of life and all corners of the globe gathered to brainstorm ideas on how to improve conditions for Muslim women across the world. Artists, musicians, writers, authors, journalists and activists brought along their passion for gender equality - and for their cherished faith - to the event in the hopes of improving the lives of their less fortunate Muslim sisters.
Among the 250 or so attendees was the pioneer feminist theologian Amina Wadud, acclaimed Islamic scholar and author Asma Asfuruddin, award-winning journalist Mona Eltahawi and of course the host, Daisy Khan, the Executive Director of the ASMA Society.
Yet, despite the glamour and glitz, and despite the conference's aspirations of being an edifying experience for its participants, something seemed amiss. Throughout the conference, I could not help feel uneasy that things were headed in the wrong direction when it came to articulating a true vision for women's equality in Islam. Read more ...
By Farzana Hassan
KUALA LUMPUR - The Second Women's Islamic Initiative in Spirituality and Equality (WISE) conference kicked off on July 16 2009 with high hopes.
Eminent women from all walks of life and all corners of the globe gathered to brainstorm ideas on how to improve conditions for Muslim women across the world. Artists, musicians, writers, authors, journalists and activists brought along their passion for gender equality - and for their cherished faith - to the event in the hopes of improving the lives of their less fortunate Muslim sisters.
Among the 250 or so attendees was the pioneer feminist theologian Amina Wadud, acclaimed Islamic scholar and author Asma Asfuruddin, award-winning journalist Mona Eltahawi and of course the host, Daisy Khan, the Executive Director of the ASMA Society.
Yet, despite the glamour and glitz, and despite the conference's aspirations of being an edifying experience for its participants, something seemed amiss. Throughout the conference, I could not help feel uneasy that things were headed in the wrong direction when it came to articulating a true vision for women's equality in Islam. Read more ...
Source: Averroes Press
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