Collective action of online Muslim feminists: Muslim feminists negotiating their identity and resisting power

Ali, Sadia (2020). Collective action of online Muslim feminists: Muslim feminists negotiating their identity and resisting power. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

This thesis presents research conducted to study the online collective action of self-identified Muslim feminists by using the Constructivist Grounded Theory research methodology. Data were collected from three main sources: asynchronous (e-mail based) interviews with feminists and their readers; Muslim feminists’ blogs; and discussions in Muslim feminist Facebook groups. Data analysis revealed an emerging pattern of four main themes that represent Muslim feminists’ online collective action. All four themes focus on power and explain how Muslim feminists resist various forms of power as part of their collective action. These are: 1) how and why Muslim feminists use the ideology of Tawhid (oneness of God) for their collective action to challenge patriarchy; 2) how they confront power embedded in Muslim discourse that oppresses women; 3) ways in which they resist their community’s control of the female body; and 4) how they identify and critique intersectional vectors of power that act simultaneously on a Muslim woman. Applying Alberto Melucci’s model of five areas of inquiry for development of a theory of collective action, the themes were used to understand Muslim feminists’ collective action. Data analysis also revealed that collective identity construction holds an important position in the collective action of Muslim feminists. In many instances, identity creation was noticed to be a direct goal of Muslim feminists’ collective action.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):