Muslim Women s Political Participation in France and Belgium

This book outlines the principal motivations, opportunities and barriers to Muslim women's political participation in France and francophone Belgium.

Easat-Daas draws on in-depth comparative contextual analysis along with semi-structured interview material with women from France and Belgium who self-identify as Muslim and are active in a variety of modes of political participation, such European Parliamentarians, Senators, councilwomen, trade-union activists and those engaged in grass-roots political movements. This provides an alternative framing of Muslim women, removed from the tired and often exaggerated stereotypes that portray them as passive objects or sources of threat, instead highlighting their remarkable resilience and consistent determination.

Through exploring the intersecting fault lines of racial, Islamophobic and gendered struggles of Muslim women in these two cases, this book also sheds new light on the role of 'European Islam', political opportunity structures, secularism and Muslim women's dress.

Offers an analysis of the interlinked factors that motivate, provide opportunities for and ultimately limit Muslim women's political participation Addresses a distinct lack of Muslim women's voices in much of the Francophone European political arena Provides a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the lived experiences of Muslim women

Auteur

Amina Easat-Daas is an Early Career Academic Fellow in the Department of Politics, People and Place at De Montfort University, UK.

Contenu
Chapter 1: Introduction.- Chapter 2: Motivations: What Motivates Muslim Women to Participate in Politics?.- Chapter 3: Opportunities: Where do the Opportunities for Muslim Women's Participation in Politics Lie?.- Chapter 4: Barriers: What Limits Muslim Women's Political Participation?.- Chapter 5: Conclusions.