ABSTRACT
This chapter explains how religion, sociopolitical transformation, and women as active agents shape the lives of women in Muslim nations. It also discusses how feminism is understood and interpreted by the institution of religion, the state, and the women themselves in the Islamic world. The chapter is devoted to in-depth discussion about how variation in political ideology, the stage of economic development, and the composition of the social structure directly affects the role of women in different countries. The discussion to here has focused on the role of outside factors-namely, the rulings of Islamic jurisprudence and the dictates of the social, political, and economic order-in determining the status of Muslim women. The chapter highlights women themselves as the main actors in transforming their role and position. Many secular women may seek not to cooperate with the state feminism of Islamic fundamentalist countries since it is considered an ideological pillar of the ruling group.
