Presentation and open discussion on
Women across the Cross-cultural Spectra
Speaker and discussion moderator:
Metin Bosnak, PhD
Professor of American Studies
Istanbul, Turkey
Metin Bosnak, PhD
Professor of American Studies
Istanbul, Turkey
Date and Time:
Saturday October 24 2:30 - 4:30 pm
Location:
East Meeting Hall of St. Louis County Library Headquarters at Lindbergh and Clayton ( MAP )
1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd. • St. Louis, MO 63131 • (314) 994-3300
Synopsis on the topic by the speaker, Dr. Metin Bosnak
The status of women in Islam has been the topic of heated discussion especially in the last three decades. Partly the feminist movement and its influence on Muslim countries, and partly the political agendas of the ruling elite in the world account for the stereotypical representation of women in the some Muslim countries. Bias and prejudice have often succeeded to relegate Islam to a monolythical interpretation of a whole faith and civilization, and Muslim women to images of walking submissive veils who willingly suffer because they believe in Islam, and after all “Islam” means “submission.”
However, it goes without saying that, in order for us to perceive properly the one faith, religious, philosophical and political system, we must compare and contrast it with others, its equivalent in other systems of faith or patriarchal ideologies: that is, in this case Islam with Judaism and Christianity. Another problem with understanding of Islam and Muslim women is that people often look at certain issues in terms of the here and the now, often forgetting or consciously avoiding the scriptural and diachronic with what appears to be overlooked and one‐sided opiniation of the synchronic misrepresentations.
However, it goes without saying that, in order for us to perceive properly the one faith, religious, philosophical and political system, we must compare and contrast it with others, its equivalent in other systems of faith or patriarchal ideologies: that is, in this case Islam with Judaism and Christianity. Another problem with understanding of Islam and Muslim women is that people often look at certain issues in terms of the here and the now, often forgetting or consciously avoiding the scriptural and diachronic with what appears to be overlooked and one‐sided opiniation of the synchronic misrepresentations.
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