IN THE PROCESS OF ADVOCATING FOR THE RIGHTS OF MUSLIM WOMEN, THE ROLE OF FEMINIST MOVEMENTS
DOI: https://doi.org/10.56815/IRJAHS/2025.V2025I1.47-53
Keywords:
Muslim Women’s Rights, Gender Equality, Legal Reform, Muslim Personal Law, Social Justice, Women’s EmpowermentAbstract
Feminist movements have played a pivotal role in advocating for the rights of Muslim women in India, addressing issues related to gender equality, social justice, and legal reform. These movements have emerged both within and outside the Muslim community, aiming to challenge patriarchal interpretations of religious laws, discriminatory social practices, and institutional barriers that limit women’s agency. Historically, Muslim women in India have faced restrictions in areas such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, education, and participation in public life. Feminist activism has sought to bridge the gap between constitutional guarantees of equality and the lived realities of women constrained by personal law and cultural norms. Through legal advocacy, awareness campaigns, and grassroots mobilization, feminist movements have highlighted the need for reforms in Muslim personal law, influenced judicial decisions, and supported legislative initiatives aimed at empowering women. This paper examines the
contributions of feminist movements in shaping public discourse, promoting legal reform, and enhancing the socio-legal status of Muslim women, emphasizing the interplay between religion, law, and gender justice in contemporary India.
