Beyond the Veil: Reimagining Muslim Women’s Identities in the Global South

When addressing the ‘gender question,’ a key concept that emerges is diversity, particularly within marginalised and underrepresented groups. One such group is Muslim women, whose experiences are often discussed in public and academic discourse, yet rarely centred. This paper seeks to examine the gender stereotypes faced by Muslim women, both within their communities and from external societal structures. It further explores how power dynamics and patriarchal frameworks influence the formation and negotiation of Muslim women’s identities. Recognising the complexity of the term ‘Muslim women’, the paper will highlight the diversity and heterogeneity within this category, including women's lived experiences across different social, economic, and geographical contexts. Special attention will be given to the voices of both indigenous and migrant Muslim women, with a particular focus on the Global South. The study will engage with contemporary Muslim women writers and scholars contributing to a growing body of feminist Muslim scholarship, challenging dominant narratives and reclaiming space within both religious and feminist discourses. Ultimately, the paper aims to foreground the agency of Muslim women as they actively engage in the process of redefining and reclaiming their identities in the face of intersecting forms of marginalisation.