Experiences Of Muslim Women Research Articles

Muslim Women's Experiences of Domestic Violence and Abuse: A Meta-Ethnography of Global Evidence.

Domestic violence and abuse (DVA) is a form of interpersonal violence perpetrated by intimate partners or family members. It includes physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, and economic abuse, as well as coercive and controlling behaviors. DVA is associated with severe physical, psychological, social, and economic consequences for the victims. Muslim women, like women from all communities, experience DVA in its various forms, however, they may experience additional barriers when seeking support. This review was conducted using a meta-ethnography approach to synthesize published qualitative evidence on Muslim women's perspectives and experiences of DVA. A systematic search of global evidence in six electronic English databases including Medline, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and ASSIA identified a total of 33 qualitative studies that met the inclusion criteria. The synthesis of these studies revealed four major themes: the experience and impacts of abuse; risk factors contributing to abuse; help-seeking; and the coping strategies of Muslim women. These findings emphasize the importance of religion not only as a risk factor for violence and a barrier to help-seeking but also as a coping strategy for dealing with violence. The findings offer important insights for policymaking and in supporting these women more effectively.

A research need: exploring the experiences and behaviours of veiled Muslim female tourists in Western destinations

ABSTRACT Previous research has explored the dress code, behaviour, motivations, and experiences of Western and Asian female tourists during their visits to Western, Asian, and Islamic destinations. However, there is a paucity of research that explores the behaviour and perspectives of hijab-wearing female Muslim tourists when visiting Western destinations for tourism purposes. Furthermore, despite the fact that some studies have explored the experiences of Muslim women in Islamic destinations (i.e. Malysia and Turkey) there remains a significant research gap in examining the travel experiences and behaviours of veiled female Muslim tourists who visit Western destinations. This is surprising considering the significant market potential presented by Muslim women who travel to Western destinations and their patterns of consumption. This research note serves to encourage scholarly inquiry into the experiences, coping mechanisms, spatial and socio-contextual factors, and constraints faced by veiled Muslim female tourists in Western countries, while advocating for a comparative analysis with Asian and Western counterparts to facilitate a holistic comprehension of their travel experiences.

Book Review: Mukaddam F Muslim Women between Community and Individual Rights: Legal Pluralism and Marriage in South Africa (Springer Nature Switzerland 2024)

This review examines the book by Fatima Mudakkam titled Muslim Women between Community and Individual Rights: Legal pluralism and Marriage Rights in South Africa (2024). The book explores the pluralistic nature of South Africa’s national legal system, focusing on the experiences of Muslim women governed by Muslim Personal Law. It provides a critical analysis of how this legal pluralism affects Muslim marriages and the civil rights of women within these marriages. The book is an essential contribution to the ongoing discourse on gender justice and legal pluralism in South Africa.

Where Intersectionality and Multiculturalism Meet: Australian Muslim Women's Experiences of Domestic and Family Violence.

Gendered violence in minority communities has long been a flashpoint for debates on multiculturalism. Whereas multiculturalism has been critiqued for not supporting gender equality, intersectionality has been heralded as a solution to ensuring women receive holistic responses. This article draws findings from a broader study on domestic and family violence (DFV) in Australian Muslim communities, highlighting how intersectionality, as applied in the Australian context, often fails to attend to the depth of Australian Muslim women's experiences. Participants' reflections showcase a number of limitations as well as how multicultural frameworks can provide the infrastructure to meaningfully engage with their particular cultural and religious needs. The insights contribute to scholarship that critiques tokenistic applications of intersectionality.

“Ritual Purity” Reimagined: Eco-Friendly Menstrual Practices and Emotional Well-being in Muslim Women

This study delves into the intricate interplay between menstrual practices and the use of menstrual products in India, entangled with religious and cultural beliefs categorizing menstruating bodies as “ritually impure.” This study investigates the experiences of Muslim women using reusable menstrual products (RMP). The findings highlight a limited yet impactful group of Muslim women comfortable with RMP usage, indicating heightened emotional well-being and body positivity. Participants emphasized the need to raise awareness among menstruators to adopt ecofriendly alternatives. The study calls for further research to promote RMP usage, emphasizing eco-friendly and sustainable menstrual practices in India.

The Significance of Religion and Spirituality Among Turkish Women Surviving Breast Cancer Without Treatment: A Qualitative Study

The health of breast cancer survivors is a global concern. It is crucial to adopt a holistic approach when understanding their journey from illness to wellness in order to ensure that the transition is as smooth as possible. This study focused on the experiences of Muslim women who had overcome breast cancer and were adapting to life post-treatment. Snowball sampling was used to select the participants for this qualitative study. Fifteen women who had successfully completed breast cancer treatment and been declared cancer-free were interviewed. These interviews were semi-structured, using open-ended questions to explore their experiences in-depth. The interviews were conducted by phone, and the data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The study identified four main themes, nine subthemes, and 41 codes. The main themes were as follows: (a) a life changed by cancer and the difficulties encountered; (b) transition from active treatment to treatment-free living; (c) coping mechanisms; and (d) future hopes and expectations. The findings highlighted the survivors’ desire to move past their experience of cancer and normalize their lives, as well as emphasizing their need for support. The participants shared detailed accounts of their journey, the obstacles they encountered during this transition, and the critical role of religion and spirituality in overcoming these challenges. Understanding and effectively managing the experiences of women after breast cancer treatment is vital not only for improving survival rates but also for facilitating their healing process.

Muslim Women's Experiences with Infertility: A Literature Review.

Infertility affects one in six women worldwide, playing a large role on an individual's psychosocial wellbeing and quality of life. The purpose of this review was to examine the experiences of Muslim women with infertility. A Prisma-guided literature review was conducted in Scopus, CINAHL, PubMed, Embase, PsychInfo, and Google Scholar. Sample inclusion criteria included research that examined the psychosocial consequences of infertility in women, used a qualitative design, were from a Muslim majority country or specified participants were Muslim, and were published in the English-language since 2013. Thematic analysis was used to synthesize the findings into themes. Fourteen qualitative studies that explored the experiences of Muslim women with infertility were included for analysis. Women's responses were categorized into three focus areas: (1) emotional responses, (2) interpersonal relationships, and (3) social relationships. From these focus points, six overarching themes were identified that illustrated the challenges faced by Muslim women experiencing infertility: (1) identity crisis, (2) low self-esteem and depression, (3) abuse and harassment, (4) a weakened marital bond, (5) stigma, and (6) social exclusion and isolation . Review of the literature provided an initial entrée into understanding the experiences of Muslim women with infertility. Understanding the unique role of infertility within a religious community equips nurses and other providers with the knowledge that discussions surrounding infertility must be conducted with cultural sensitivity. Further research should be conducted to explore and offer culturally tailored educational materials that align with the religious preferences of Muslim women.

Challenging the fashion academy: Intersectional perspectives on justice in the evolving fashion system

This Special Issue of the journal focuses on the intricate relationship between justice and the fashion system, presenting a collection of groundbreaking research articles and reviews. The aim is to highlight the importance of intersectional and advocacy-based research in fashion studies, with a focus on historically marginalized identities. The articles employ diverse research methods, including literature reviews, material culture analysis, interviews and historical investigations. The articles cover a range of topics that examine justice within the fashion industry. One article critically analyses scholarship on Black women and fashion, highlighting the dominance of research centred on resistance, oppression and Eurocentric beauty standards. Another article explores the representation and experiences of Muslim women in modest fashion brands, examining the intersection of oppression, agency and capitalist practices. Additionally, the issue includes articles centred on fatness and fashion, discussing transgressive dress on YouTube, resistance against weight stigma on Instagram, and the historical development of sizing systems for fat bodies. Two reviews featured in the Special Issue provide insights into the relationship between fashion and intersectional feminism in American society, as well as the historical significance of Bomba attire in Puerto Rico. Overall, this collection of articles and reviews offers a comprehensive exploration of fashion studies through the lens of historically marginalized identities, shedding light on the industry’s potential to challenge discrimination and promote inclusivity. The issue calls for continued engagement with intersectional and advocacy-based research to drive the growth and evolution of the discipline, ultimately working towards a more equitable and inclusive fashion industry.

The influence of cultural constraints on entrepreneurial motivations: Exploring the experiences of Muslim women entrepreneurs in Pakistan

This article explores the influence of cultural constraints on entrepreneurial motivations for women entrepreneurs of the Muslim faith. A qualitative approach is taken by drawing from extraordinarily rare interviews with 17 women entrepreneurs who run businesses in the open market in the Northwest region of Pakistan. Push and pull factors were examined in the context of cultural constraints using the lens of post-materialism and dissatisfaction theories. The findings reveal that some entrepreneurs are pulled into entrepreneurship to give something back to local youths and to improve their life chances and/or reduce hardship. In relation to the push factors, some entrepreneurs decided to do something about the harsh circumstances they found themselves in to demonstrate their agency. All were aware of the cultural constraints around them and are highly motivated to overcome these as role models for future generations and to hopefully achieve parity with male peers. This research contributes to the existing literature by providing new insights to the reader in extending the post-materialism and dissatisfaction theories for women Muslim entrepreneurs in Pakistan. Furthermore, it also demonstrates how cultural constraints related to family issues motivate women in a male-dominated society to become entrepreneurs.

Narrating Resistance: Representation of Nineteenth Century Bengali Muslim Women in Akhtar Mahal's Niyantrita

The participation and Muslim women’s contributions of the nineteenth and the early twentieth century in the social reform movements in India have remained largely unexplored. The documented literary history of the period till date furthermore does not accord a reasonable space for Muslim women authors. The present paper attempts to intervene in the context of the gaps throughout recorded history where women, especially Muslim are posited almost overlooked in the discourses of society, religion, and literature. The paper intends to examine how Muslim women are portrayed in the social and religious discourses of India and/ or undivided Bengal, marking their challenges at multiple levels in literary and socio-cultural history. It intends to critically examine the Bengali Muslim writer Akhtar Mahal’s pioneering novella, Niyantrita (1926) that explores Muslim women’s aversion to hierarchical structures of the contemporary Indian society. Begum Akhtar Mahal (1901-1928) was an eminent Muslim writer who continued writing despite the adversities she faced after her early marriage at the age of fourteen. Born in 1901 in an aristocratic and educated family, Akhtar was introduced into an atmosphere that was truly conducive to literary and artistic pursuits, even though there was no question of sending the girls to school or college in the initial decades of the 1900s. But the feudal environment of her in-laws house was absolutely different from her paternal home. Women keen on education or music or art were not appreciated in her marital home. These are the aspects that led her to raise her voice of resistance against patriarchal oppression. Two of her seminal works are Niyantrita and Maran Baran. The Bengali Muslim negotiation with modernity and even with anti-colonial struggles has not been well recorded. Most accounts speak of ‘backwardness’, where the Bengali Muslim ‘renaissance’ takes place about fifty years after the Bengal renaissance. The institutionalized patriarchal setting was held responsible for an “enforced” seclusion. This rendered Muslim women significantly less visible to historical and social analyses than their Indian counterparts. Akhtar Mahal intricately weaves a tapestry of romance entangled with the heart-wrenching realities of forced marriages that often plague Muslim societies. The tale chronicles a life filled with sorrow, delicately narrated in a poignant and mournful fashion. This narrative touches upon the experiences of Muslim women, colonialism, patriarchy, and the echo of resistance.

"Liberty Can Be for You One Thing, and for Me Something Different": Muslim Women's Experiences of Identity and Belonging in Switzerland.

Belonging and identity are fundamental human needs, with positive experiences closely correlated with affirmative mental health. This paper investigates how these concepts are experienced by Muslim women in Switzerland, a minority group targeted in the political campaign nicknamed the "burka ban." There were two research questions: How do Muslim women construct their identity in Switzerland? How do Muslim women experience a sense of belonging in Switzerland? Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six participants, and data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Six themes were identified: religion as a public versus private identity, Islam and dressing modestly as expressions of gendered liberation, sharing a sense of Swiss identity through sameness, challenging dominant representations, impression management, and religious and cultural identity as psychological strengths. Participants used several strategies to construct a positive identity and experience belonging in response to negative representation. Findings are summarized in the form of recommendations for counselors working in Switzerland.

Female Representation In Select Travel Writings: A Critical Reading

From the advent of the twenty first century onwards, travel has become a culture along with the development of tourism as a recreation, an escape from the chaotic work schedules of the modern world, and also the increase in the desire for adventures and exploration. But the world of travel is also gender biased and women are far behind men in terms of getting travel opportunities, their travel narratives are often neglected. Seldom women venture into travel individually, of course with group travel especially to some pilgrimage places like Aadhiparashakiti temple, Tirichandur Murugan shrine and so on. This research paper aims a comparison between Anees Jung's Unveiling India and G. Willow Wilson's The Butterfly Mosque. The study reveals two distinct perspectives on the experiences of Muslim women in different parts of the world. While both books explore the complexities of identity, culture, and religion, they differ in terms of their tone, style, and focus. Both books can be read as the collective experience of women in two different parts of the world.

Gender, Religion and Higher Education: Strategies of Muslim Women Students in India

Social scientists critically examine the role of higher education in women’s empowerment. In the Indian context, gender, religion, caste, class and region are crucial in determining access to education. The gender gap has been a significant obstacle in India’s pursuit of educational goals. The status of Muslim women’s education has been a contested policy from state and community vantage. Prominent scholarly writings argue that Muslim women were even more isolated from the social and cultural changes than their men were and even more invisible in the public arena of society. Their condition is more pathetic in educational and cultural realms. The primary objective of this paper is to empirically outline the negotiation and strategies employed by Muslim women students in negotiating with their families, religion, communities and careers. The study followed qualitative methodology to understand Muslim women’s educational choices, the rationale behind their educational decisions, and their agency in negotiating with their families and the career prospects of young Muslim women. The current paper argues that there is a remarkable growth in the history of women’s education in India, especially after the 90s, which could not change the social structure and social status of women in society in general and Muslim women in particular. Still, the gender differences remained stable in the educational practices, in the families, and even in the equity-minded educational committees. According to various government reports and studies, despite the improvement in the educational enrolment rate of Muslims, the representations of the Muslim community in general and Muslim women, in particular, are minimal in higher education. More than looking at the representation of Muslim women in education institutions, the current paper will analyse the challenges and experiences of Muslim women to reach the secondary and higher secondary levels of education.

Exploring Muslim Women's Reproductive Health Needs and Preferences in the Emergency Department.

Objective: We explored individual Muslim women's reproductive healthcare experiences, preferences, beliefs, and behaviors in the emergency department (ED) and in general. Methods: This was a qualitative study conducted at a community ED using semi-structured interviews with a piloted interview guide. We interviewed participants awaiting care in the ED with the following criteria: female gender; English or Arabic speaking; aged ≥18years; and self-identified as Muslim. We conducted interviews in both English and Arabic until thematic saturation was reached. Transcripts were coded using an iteratively developed codebook, maintaining intercoder agreement greater than 80%. We used an inductive thematic analysis to identify themes, and results were interpreted in the context of interview language and patient's age. Results: We interviewed 26 Muslim-identified female ED patients. We found that cultural representation and sensitivity among ED staff mitigated discrimination and promoted inclusion for Muslim ED patients. However, assumptions about Muslim identity also impacted the participants' healthcare. Most participants endorsed a preference for a female clinician for their reproductive healthcare in general, but not necessarily for other areas of medicine. Clinician cultural concordance was not always preferred for participants in the ED due to fears about the loss of confidentiality. Marital status impacted beliefs about reproductive and sexual health in the context of Muslim identity. Overall, family planning was acceptable and encouraged in this patient population. Conclusion: The themes elucidated in this study may guide clinicians in developing culturally sensitive practices when providing reproductive healthcare to the Muslim population.

Examining the resettlement experiences of Muslim women

In recent years there has been increased attention to the impact of migration on mental health. However, existing research uses an intra-individual lens, focuses on the poor mental health of refugees and asylum seekers, and fails to address the limits of traditional therapy. The aim of the present study was to address a gap in the literature on migration by focusing on the following question: how might a human rights approach help us to identify the policies, practices, and structural forces that impact mental health after migration? Muslim women who migrated to the U.S. as refugees and/or seeking asylum were asked about their experiences of health and well-being. Qualitative data from 10 semi-structured interviews were analyzed and thematic methods were used to generate themes. Four main themes were identified: 1) critical to the definition of a meaningful life was having access to human rights to which Muslim women were entitled; 2) the pervasive impact of legal and financial issues, family separation, and citizenship-related challenges as structural causes of distress; 3) connection serves to enhance well-being; and 4) clinicians can help mitigate the emotional distress incurred by migration by identifying and responding to the health harming legal needs of their clients. This study highlights the importance of incorporating a structural competency framework when working with refugee and asylum-seeking Muslim women in order to challenge health-harming systems which restrict their human rights.

Experiences of Muslim women living with gynaecological cancer and family caregivers.

Cancer has a large impact on the life of the diagnosed person and also their caregivers, who are typically family members. The impact of cancer on a Muslim woman and her caregivers has not been well researched because of cultural and social constraits. The aim of this study was to explorel the experiences of Muslim women with gynaecological cancers and their family caregivers. A descriptive phenomenological approach was adopted. A convenience sample was used in the research. The study findings were grouped into four major themes: the initial reaction to a cancer diagnosis from women and their caregivers, difficulties the patient and caregiver experienced (physiological, psychological, social and sexual), coping with cancer and expectations that caregivers and patients have of the institution and the health personnel. It was determined that during this disease and treatment, both the patients and caregivers faced difficulties, which can be categorised as physiological, psychological, social and sexual. Muslim women with gynaecological cancer frequently used coping behaviours, such as worshiping and believing that illness and healing come from God during the illness process. Patients and their family caregivers lived through various difficulties. Healthcare professionals need to consider the expectations of patients with gynecological cancer, alongside those of their family caregivers. Nurses can help Muslim patients and their families cope with the problems they experience by being aware of the positive coping methods of Muslim cancer patients and their caregivers. Nurses should consider individuals' religious beliefs and cultural differences while giving care.

TRANSCENDING THE SONIC AND THE TEXTUAL

Among Muslim women in predominantly Islamic societies, music-making remains a contested subject. At the core of these contestations are questions of boundaries, agency, taboos, resistance, and generalisations of the socio-musical experiences of Muslim women. This article explores the development of senwele music, a socio-religious music form of the Ilorin in northern Nigeria, from its origin as orin-kengbe (calabash music) to its transition into a translocal music form. Given influences of the Yoruba, Hausa-Fulani, and Islam, senwele music is examined as a compendium of history; one that is not only reflective of the Ilorin traditional music scene, but also the north-south dualism in Ilorin, tensions in music-making and Islam, and regio-political remapping in Nigeria. Based on fieldwork with a major exponent of senwele, Alhaja Iya Aladuke, and her music group in Ilorin, the article explores the practice, ambivalences, convivialities and sustainability of senwele music performance within its predominantly Islamic context. I argue that while established societal conventions, such as those in Ilorin, function as a standard for the acceptance of music, a woman musician such as Alhaja Iya Aladuke continues to thrive through a musician-community exchange that takes into cognisance the sensibilities of the people while retaining their patronage and her artistic autonomy. Beyond its sonic, textual, and entertainment prerogatives, the sustained practice of senwele music in Ilorin presents a continuum for interrogating and negotiating cross-cultural encounters, socio-religious binaries, gender boundaries, and the multiplicity in the socio-musical experiences of Muslim women.

Predictors of Perceived Discrimination in Medical Settings Among Muslim Women in the USA.

Minority groups based on immigration status, gender, or religion often face discrimination in healthcare settings. Muslim women, especially those who wear hijab, are more likely to experience stereotyping and discrimination in and outside of healthcare, but little is known about the sociodemographic predictors of this discrimination. We examined sociodemographic factors and religiosity as predictors of discrimination in medical settings among Muslim American women. Muslim women (n = 254) were recruited from Muslim organizations in Chicago to self-administer a survey on perceived discrimination, religiosity, and sociodemographic characteristics. Many participants reported that they were treated with less courtesy than non-Muslims (25.4%) and that a doctor or nurse did not listen to them (29.8%) or acted as though they were not smart (24.3%). A multivariable regression model revealed that self-rated religiosity was negatively associated with discrimination. Race/ethnicity trended towards predicting perceived discrimination such that Arabs and South Asians reported less discrimination than African Americans. The current study sheds light on the important role of religiosity in shaping Muslim women's experiences in medical settings and points to the buffering effect of religiosity and the additive consequences of racial/ethnic identity in experiences of religious discrimination.

"I Am Grateful for Every Day I Live": A Qualitative Study on the Spiritual Experiences of Women With Gynecological Cancer.

Considering the life-threatening nature of gynecological cancers, spirituality and religious beliefs may play a key role in the experiences of the patients during the disease process and their coping. The aim of this study was to understand the spiritual experiences of Muslim women with gynecological cancer during the disease process. A qualitative, phenomenological, and hermeneutic approach was followed in the research. Fourteen women with gynecological cancer in Turkey were interviewed individually. The thematic analysis approach of Braun and Clarke was used to evaluate the data. The results of the data analysis revealed 3 themes (consisting of 9 subthemes): (1) reaction to cancer: spiritual distress (fear of death, perception of punishment, fear of obscurity and uncertainty, and being a cause of spiritual distress in the family); (2) reaction to cancer: spiritual well-being (accepting whatever may come from Allah, strengthening the faith in Allah); and (3) spiritual resources for coping with cancer (religious practices, hobbies and complementary practices, and family support). The results of the study shed light on the cases that may cause spiritual distress and improve the spiritual well-being that is experienced by Muslim women with gynecological cancer during the disease process; they also reveal that religion has an effect on the experiences during the cancer process and the coping methods. Healthcare professionals who care for Muslim women with gynecological cancer should plan spiritual care by being aware of the cultural characteristics and religious beliefs of these women and their families.

Analysis of the Status of Muslim Women in Islam in the two Decades from the Western Lens and Media

Following sound knowledge and a better understanding of women's issues from the grassroots level could be a great source of policy-making, particularly on women empowerment. In addition, women’s studies could be a potential means of effecting a positive change toward building a better society. Women’s studies play a pivotal role in the attainment of societal progress and human development. Media can be used to navigate the impact of the negative portrayal of Muslim women in societies across the globe. Thus, under the lens of print and non-print media, numerous Oriental researchers had been examining the plight of Muslim women to unveil their status and the active role they play in societies. This research explores the previous research on issues and experiences of Muslim women geared towards creating a positive attitude and better perspective on Muslim women. Since the year 2000, there had been a great development of research and studies which focused on Muslim women from different perspectives. Hence, there is a need to review the related literature on Muslim women due to its important role in presenting the various identities, and the role of Muslim women in societies across the world.