Research summary
Debates about gender and Islam are currently oversimplified, and the voices of Muslim women themselves are often left out. Dr. Ayesha Chaudhry, Canada Research Chair in Religion, Law and Social Justice, is working to change that.
Chaudry’s research sits at the intersection of religion, law, and social justice. She and her research team are combining textual analysis with social commentary with a focus on how gender is (re)constructed by religious, political, and social factors to suggest visions of ideal citizenship. They are also connecting contemporary debates with historical sources to examine trans-national and multi-religious constructions of ideal Muslim women as subjects of nation states. Their research is geared toward creating a more sophisticated public discussion around Islam and ensuring Muslim women’s voices and attitudes determine how texts are interpreted and how laws are enacted.