Why are Conservatives Winning?
British Muslim journalist Yasmin Alibhai-Brown astutely encapsulates 20th century struggles:
“After the transformative 60s, Muslim feminists resumed the fight for equality. European rule was over. It was time. The Moroccan academic Fatema Mernissi, Egypt’s Nawal El Saadawi and the Pakistani scholar Riffat Hassan all argued for female emancipation. They rightly saw the veil as a a tool and symbol of oppression and subservience…
But more conservative Islamic tenets have taken over lands, communities, families, heads and hearts.. All religions cast women as sinners and temptresses. Conservative Islam has revived the slander for our times”.
She’s right. Muslim feminists have indeed advocated for egalitarian interpretations of scripture, asserted their rights, and challenged patriarchal laws. However, over recent decades, their influence appears to have diminished. Most Muslims prefer to seek guidance from respected imams.
Westerners often overlook this nuance, stereotyping Islam as either conservative or progressive. In reality, religious practices are diverse and contested, with conservatives currently wielding greater authority. The most revered and respected scholars are often those trained in Egypt or Saudi Arabia. This trend holds true even in some of the world’s wealthiest countries, like Britain.
This essay draws on nationally representative data into labour markets, transnational marriages, beliefs, and my interviews.
