The Impact of Islam As a Religion and Muslim Women on Gender Equality: a Phenomenological Research Study
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Nova Southeastern University NSUWorks Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses CAHSS Theses and Dissertations and Dissertations 1-1-2014 The mpI act of Islam as a Religion and Muslim Women on Gender Equality: A Phenomenological Research Study Sonia D. Galloway Nova Southeastern University, [email protected] This document is a product of extensive research conducted at the Nova Southeastern University College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. For more information on research and degree programs at the NSU College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, please click here. Follow this and additional works at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/shss_dcar_etd Part of the Gender and Sexuality Commons, Inequality and Stratification Commons, Quantitative, Qualitative, Comparative, and Historical Methodologies Commons, Religion Commons, and the Women's Studies Commons Share Feedback About This Item NSUWorks Citation Sonia D. Galloway. 2014. The Impact of Islam as a Religion and Muslim Women on Gender Equality: A Phenomenological Research Study. Doctoral dissertation. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences. (14) https://nsuworks.nova.edu/shss_dcar_etd/14. This Dissertation is brought to you by the CAHSS Theses and Dissertations at NSUWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of NSUWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Impact of Islam as a Religion and Muslim Women on Gender Equality: A Phenomenological Research Study by Sonia D. Galloway A Dissertation Presented to the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences of Nova Southeastern University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Nova Southeastern University 2014 Copyright © by Sonia D. Galloway November 2014 Nova Southeastern University Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences This dissertation was submitted by Sonia D. Galloway under the direction of the chair of the dissertation committee li sted below. It was submitted to the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences and approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Conflict Analysis and Resolution at Nova Southeastern University . Approved: Date of Defense Neil Katz, PhD., Chair Date of Final Approval Neil Katz , PhD ., Chair Dedication I dedicate my dissertation work to my family and friends. A special gratitude to my son, Daryus K. Drayton, whose love and wittiness has inspired me to reach for the stars. I also dedicate my dissertation to my mother, Ms. P. Harris Galloway, for her continued love and support in all my endeavors. My siblings, Jocelyn, Jennifer, and Roderick, who have never left my side and hold special places within my heart. Acknowledgments I wish to thank my committee members who were more than generous with their expertise and precious time. A special thanks to Dr. Neil Katz, my committee chair, for his countless hours of reflecting, reading, encouraging, and most of all patience throughout the entire process. Thank you Dr. Dustin Berna and Dr. Jason Campbell for agreeing to serve on my committee. I would like to acknowledge and thank Mrs. Becky Bell and Ms. Brenda Williams for their words of encouragement as I meandered through this endeavor. Your gift of friendship has made this process much easier. I love you ladies. Finally I would like to thank Ms. Angela Brown for her friendship and assistance throughout this process. I truly appreciate the long hours of reading and editing my dissertation. I am thankful to know such a warm and caring person. Table of Contents List of Tables ...................................................................................................................... v List of Figures .................................................................................................................... vi Abstract ............................................................................................................................. vii Chapter 1: Introduction ....................................................................................................... 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1 Statement of Problem ..................................................................................................... 3 Background of the Study ................................................................................................ 4 Research Questions ........................................................................................................ 9 Purpose of the Study .................................................................................................... 10 Research Design ........................................................................................................... 11 Theoretical Framework ................................................................................................ 14 Significance of the Study ............................................................................................. 18 Definition of Terms ...................................................................................................... 20 Assumptions, Limitations, and Delimitations .............................................................. 21 Assumptions ............................................................................................................ 21 Limitations .............................................................................................................. 21 Delimitations ........................................................................................................... 22 Summary ...................................................................................................................... 22 Organization of the Study ............................................................................................ 23 Chapter 2: Literature Review ............................................................................................ 24 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 24 Religion ........................................................................................................................ 24 Islam ............................................................................................................................. 26 Islam and Women ........................................................................................................ 31 Present Condition of Women in Islamic majority Societies ........................................ 39 Political Participation ................................................................................................... 40 Education ..................................................................................................................... 42 Employment ................................................................................................................. 44 Eypyt ....................................................................................................................... 46 Iran .......................................................................................................................... 46 i Iraq .......................................................................................................................... 46 Jordan ...................................................................................................................... 47 Lebanon ................................................................................................................... 47 Morocco .................................................................................................................. 47 Saudi Arabia ............................................................................................................ 47 Syria ........................................................................................................................ 48 The West Bank and Gaza ........................................................................................ 48 Yemen ..................................................................................................................... 49 Afghanistan ............................................................................................................. 49 Pakistan ................................................................................................................... 49 Islamic Feminism ......................................................................................................... 50 Cause ....................................................................................................................... 50 Definition ................................................................................................................ 51 Challenges to Islamic Feminism .................................................................................. 58 Religion ........................................................................................................................ 60 Feminism .....................................................................................................................