Jimmy Carter and women's rights: From the White House to Islamic feminism

Abstract

Since 2009, former US President Jimmy Carter has been outspoken in his condemnation of abuses of women around the world. This appears to be a departure from his stance while in the White House (1977–1981), when many feminist groups criticized him for his lack of effort on women's issues. This paper analyzes the historical record and Carter's own writing to compare his work since 2009 with his position on women's issues during his presidency. I argue that although women's issues have become a higher priority for Carter, his approach still has much in common with attitudes that that angered feminists in the 1970s, including an emphasis on the morality of male leaders – rather than the actions of feminist women – as the means to improve women's lives. What has changed since the 1970s, however, are his views on religious leaders. While in the White House he courted the support of evangelicals, despite their opposition to the Equal Rights Amendment and other feminist policies; in the intervening years he has come to view conservative religious leaders as barriers to women's rights. The views of Zainah Anwar and other Islamic feminists are foundational in Carter's new approach to religion and women's rights.