Women in Islamic Communities: The Quest for Gender Justice Research

This article, in the context of jurisprudential social legitimacy of Muslim women's roles and rights, discusses the factors lying behind seemingly contradictory policies towards gender equality in Muslim countries. It first examines the influence of religious institutions over interpretation and application of Muslim women's roles and rights. Second, it discusses the deference social policy gives to the views of these institutions and the extent to which it intersects with the principles of gender justice. The article concludes with some issues and research questions for internationally and nationally concerned groups to consider when planning for the improvement of the status of women in Muslim communities.