Breaking stereotypes: two generations of Muslim women

The stereotyped image of Muslim women as educationally backward and their being non-responsive to social change etc. seems to be an exaggerated perception which has been the staple of mainstream academics and media projections. There is no doubt that more research is needed in this area, particularly in the present context of rapid socio-economic and political change, and the impact of this on women. We as social scientists need to develop new approaches and methodologies to study the problem of Muslim women in India who are a minority within a minority. The approach should not merely focus on the narrow textual aspects of religion, nor even on the narrowly economic but a holistic approach wherein the economic, social, religio-culural, historical and political strands are brought together. At the same time, micro studies are needed to see the impact of wider macro-processes and structures and the varying responses of the Muslim community, including its women to these changes The challenge for social scientists is to simultaneously see the commonality of the problems of Muslim women with the rest of Indian women as well as the specificity of their situation. This calls for a sensitive understanding of the historical and political context and location within which Indian Muslim women are placed.