Translating Text to Context: Muslim Women Activists in Indonesia

Abstract

This chapter focuses on two distinct activist movements among Indonesian women - Muslim and arīʿah-minded - and illustrates the ways in which women from both ends of the spectrum use and transmit their religious knowledge to influence social debates. It describes the contested issue of polygamy, which has become the linchpin of the debates on women's rights and Islam in Indonesia. In order to illustrate some of the methods and approaches used during these symbolic battles, the chapter discusses how feminists have addressed the subject of polygamy, which in their minds is directly linked to domestic abuse. Most importantly, feminist's connections with mosques, madrasahs, and pesantren provide them with large audiences, female and male students, pengajian participants, and others. Keywords:Indonesian women; Madrasah; Mosque; Sharīʿah-minded activists