Muslim Women in Canada: Autonomy and Empowerment

Abstract

This paper presents the findings of an exploratory study of Muslim women in Canada to illustrate the great diversity and complexity of Muslim women's lives. Drawing upon existing literature, newspaper articles, and Canadian Muslim associations and their documentation, this paper contextualizes the pluralistic manifestations of Islam(s) in Canada and demonstrates how these shape Canadian Muslim women's experiences. This is achieved by providing a sketch of Muslim women's places within the dynamics of Canadian diasporic Muslim communities; the choices made for public or religious education; the political and social activities of Canadian Muslim women; the reaffirmation for some of Islamic identity markers, and the recognition of Islamic Law within the Canadian legal system debate. In spite of all this diversity, some common challenges, like those of unemployment and discrimination, still remain issues to be addressed.