Digital faiths: An analysis of the online practices of Muslim women in the Netherlands

Abstract

Synopsis In response to current debates in Western Europe around Islam, gender equality and emancipation, this article aims to develop a new perspective on conceptualising ‘emancipation’ in feminist theory and practice. Our case study of how Muslim women in the Netherlands use digital media to negotiate their religious affiliations and multiple belongings shows that faith and religious practices are important markers of Muslim women's agency, both emancipatory and submissive. Theoretically, the article integrates classical feminist standpoint theory and situated knowledges with current debates on agency and subjectivity. Methodologically, our virtual ethnography draws on both online and offline data: postings on four websites for Muslims living in the Netherlands as well as focus group interviews with their editors/bloggers and women active in Dutch Muslim women's organisations. The data were analysed through Critical Discourse Analysis.