Islam, Gender, and Modernity

RS 8: Islam, Gender, and Modernity

• M-R 12:30-1:50 in HSSB 1215
• Course Instructor: Claire Robison clairerobison@umail.ucsb.edu
• Office Hours: 2pm on Tues & Thurs or by appointment in HSSB 3043

 

Course Structure

Week 1: Aug 4^th-7^th

Mon Aug 4^th:

• In class: Introduction to the main issues of studying Islam, Gender, and Modernity
• Reading: John Esposito, What Everyone Needs to Know About Islam: pp 3-14, 18-22, 48-50, 61-62: Esposito Reading 1

Tues Aug 5^th:

• In class: Introduction to Islamic tradition and gender, historical and contemporary
• Reading: John Esposito, What Everyone Needs to Know About Islam: pp 95-105, 158-162, 166-173: Esposito Reading 2

Wed Aug 6^th:

• In class: ‘Honor Diaries’ film and discussion
• Reading: Short article by Lila Abu-Lughod, Do Muslim Women Need Saving?: http://ideas.time.com/2013/11/01/do-muslim-women-need-saving/

Thurs Aug 7^th:

• In class: Islam and European Colonialism
• Reading: Harem Years Introduction and Part 1: 7-32
• Quiz 1 on reading from Week 1

 

Week 2: Aug 11^th-14^th

Mon Aug 11^th:

• In class: Egypt in Huda Sharawi’s Time
• Reading: Harem Years Part 2: 33-61

Tues Aug 12^th:

• In class: Feminism and Growth of Women’s Salons in early 20^th c Egypt
• Reading: Harem Years Part 3: 62-82
• Quiz 2 on Harem Years Parts 2 & 3

Wed Aug 13^th:

• In class: ‘Me and the Mosque’ film and discussion
• Reading: Harem Years Part 4: 83-111

Thurs Aug 14^th:

• In class: Successes of Women’s Rights Advocates in 20^th c Egypt
• Reading: Harem Years Epilogue 112-137
• Quiz 3 on Harem Years Part 4 & Epilogue

 

Week 3: Aug 18^th-21^st

Mon Aug 18^th:

• In class: Independence Movements and Post-colonial Muslim-Majority Nations
• Reading: Year of the Elephant Introduction, xix-xxxv

Tues Aug 19^th:

• In class: Patriarchy and Structures of Home Life
• Reading: Year of the Elephant Chapters 1 & 2: 1-25
• Quiz 4 on Year of the Elephant Introduction & Ch. 1-2

Wed Aug 20^th:

• In class: Discussion on Final Research Papers
• Reading: Year of the Elephant Ch. 3: 26-47

Thurs Aug 21^st:

• In class: Discussion on Film Presentations
• Reading: Year of the Elephant Ch. 4: 48-61 and news article: Zahir Janmohamed, The Lost Audacity of Hope. http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/the-lost-audacity-of-hope/article4072373.ece
• Quiz 5 on Year of the Elephant Ch. 3-4

 

Week 4: Aug 25^th-28^th

Mon Aug 25^th:

• In class: Changing Scenarios for Conservative Muslim Women
• Reading: Year of the Elephant Ch. 5: 62-81

Tues Aug 26^th:

• In class: Modern Islamic Reform Movements and the Rise of Islamism
• Reading: John Esposito, What Everyone Needs to Know About Islam: pp. 53-57, 63-71, 105-109, 182-188, 212-21: Esposito Reading 3
• Quiz 6 on Year of the Elephant Ch. 5 & Esposito Reading

Wed Aug 27^th:

• In class: The Rise of Islamism continued
• Reading:
• Leila Ahmed, A Quiet Revolution: The Veil’s Resurgence from the Middle East to America: Leila Ahmed Quiet Revolution
• Reconstructing Self and Society: Javanese Muslim Women and “The Veil”: Veiling in Java

Thurs Aug 28^th:

• In class: Introduction to Modern Iran
• Reading: Lipstick Jihad Introduction & Ch. 1: Secret Garden (1-28)
• Quiz 7 on articles and Lipstick Jihad Introduction & Ch. 1

 

Week 5: Sept 1^st-4^th

Mon Sept 1^st:

• No class: Labor Day Holiday.
• Reading: Lipstick Jihad Ch. 2: Homecoming (31-64)

Tues Sept 2^nd:

• In class: Life under a Modern Theocratic Government
• Reading: Lipstick Jihad Ch. 3: We Don’t Need No Revolution (67-91) & 4: My Country is Sick (95-121)
• Quiz 8 on Lipstick Jihad Ch. 2-4

Wed Sept 3^rd:

• In class: ‘Be Like Others’ film and discussion
• Reading: Lipstick Jihad Ch. 5: Election (125-148)

Thurs Sept 4^th:

• In class: ‘Tales of the Waria’ film
• Reading: Lipstick Jihad Ch. 6: I’m Too Sexy for My Veil (151-176)
• Quiz 9 on Lipstick Jihad Ch. 5-6

 

Week 6: Sept 8^th-11^th

Mon Sept 8^th:

• No class: Email a 1-page outline of your research essay, including the topic, bibliography, and basic points in outline form
• Reading: Lipstick Jihad Ch. 7: Love in a Time of Struggle (179-202)

Tues Sept 9^th:

•  In class: Discuss Lipstick Jihad
• Reading: 8: Summer of the Cockroach (205-219)

Wed Sept 10^th:

• In class: Concluding discussion on Lipstick Jihad
• Reading: 9: Not Without My Mimosa (223-246)
• Quiz 10 on Lipstick Jihad Ch. 7-9

Thurs Sept 11^th:

• In class: Film Presentations

 

Assessment

10% Participation

20% Film Presentation

35% Reading Quizzes (10 total)

35% Final Research Paper (5 pg reflection based on 3+ sources). Due in my inbox Sept 16^th by 5pm.

 

Film Project Details

Films for the Film Presentation:

• Persepolis
• Wadjda
• Reluctant Fundamentalist
• View from a Grain of Sand
• Two Women

The class will be divided into 5 groups and assigned one film each. On the last day of class (Thursday, Sept 11^th) each group will give a 10 min. presentation on their assigned film, including a synopsis (2 min), response and analysis based on the issues we have discussed in class (4-5 min), and a short excerpt from the film  (3-4 min) illustrating the points you make.

 

Final Essay Details

You will be given a choice of 5 topics related to the issues we have discussed during the course. Choose one and draw from its corresponding bibliography to write a research paper. 5 pgs, double-spaced with footnotes and a bibliography. Due Sept 16^th by 5 pm in my inbox.

 

Class Participation Expectations

Class participation means actual human interaction. No laptop/smartphone/electronic device use during class. Bring a notebook or pad of paper for taking notes. All lecture power-points will be posted on Gauchospace for later consultation.

Join the conversation. Bring your thoughts, questions, and critiques to class. Let’s make the course an interesting conversation with a variety of Muslim women’s voices.

 

Extra Online Resources

http://loveinshallah.com/

http://www.sistersinislam.org.my/

http://www.wisemuslimwomen.org/muslimwomen/

http://www.kpemberton.com/blog.html

https://twitter.com/aminawadud