De-Universalising Male Normativity: Feminist Methodologies for Studying Masculinity in Premodern Islamic Ethics Texts

Zahra Ayubi

Article Details

De-Universalising Male Normativity: Feminist Methodologies for Studying Masculinity in Premodern Islamic Ethics Texts

Authors:

Zahra Ayubi

Publisher:

Brill

Journal:

Journal of Islamic Ethics Vol.4 Issue 2, pp.66-97

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2020

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001948708

pISSN:

2468-5534

Keywords:

Abstract:

 Historically, texts of the Islamic intellectual tradition characterised the ideal Muslim by exclusively referring to men and their concerns. Only recently have scholars of Islam begun to engage in critical study of the category of masculinity. This essay focuses on theories and methodologies of studying masculinity and manhood in premodern Islamic ethics. I demonstrate the gains to be made from gender-critical study of masculinity by way of consolidating approaches scholars have taken and arguing for feminist reasons and methodologies for unpacking male normativity. Because premodern Islamic ethics texts across multiple genres of the scriptural and intellectual tradition presume male readers and subjects, we must take male normativity, the assumption that Muslim ethics is for men, male bodies and practiced by persons marked by maleness, as our critical starting point. Historically, texts of the Islamic intellectual tradition characterised the ideal Muslim by exclusively referring to men and their concerns. Only recently have scholars of Islam begun to engage in critical study of the category of masculinity. This essay focuses on theories and methodologies of studying masculinity and manhood in premodern Islamic ethics. I demonstrate the gains to be made from gender-critical study of masculinity by way of consolidating approaches scholars have taken and arguing for feminist reasons and methodologies for unpacking male normativity. Because premodern Islamic ethics texts across multiple genres of the scriptural and intellectual tradition presume male readers and subjects, we must take male normativity, the assumption that Muslim ethics is for men, male bodies and practiced by persons marked by maleness, as our critical starting point. Historically, texts of the Islamic intellectual tradition characterised the ideal Muslim by exclusively referring to men and their concerns. Only recently have scholars of Islam begun to engage in critical study of the category of masculinity. This essay focuses on theories and methodologies of studying masculinity and manhood in premodern Islamic ethics. I demonstrate the gains to be made from gender-critical study of masculinity by way of consolidating approaches scholars have taken and arguing for feminist reasons and methodologies for unpacking male normativity. Because premodern Islamic ethics texts across multiple genres of the scriptural and intellectual tradition presume male readers and subjects, we must take male normativity, the assumption that Muslim ethics is for men, male bodies and practiced by persons marked by maleness, as our critical starting point.

Article Details

De-Universalising Male Normativity: Feminist Methodologies for Studying Masculinity in Premodern Islamic Ethics Texts

Authors:

Zahra Ayubi

Publisher:

Brill

Journal:

Journal of Islamic Ethics Vol.4 Issue 2, pp.66-97

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2020

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001948708

pISSN:

2468-5534

Philosophy

Theology & Science

Middle East and Islamic Studies

Journal

Issues

Article Details

De-Universalising Male Normativity: Feminist Methodologies for Studying Masculinity in Premodern Islamic Ethics Texts

Authors: Zahra Ayubi

Publisher: Brill

Journal: Journal of Islamic Ethics Vol.4 Issue 2, pp.66-97

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 12/2020

Document Language: English

Document ID (Org No.): 2001948708

pISSN: 2468-5534

Philosophy

Theology & Science

Middle East and Islamic Studies

Journal

Issues

Authors:

Zahra Ayubi

Publisher:

Brill

Journal:

Journal of Islamic Ethics Vol.4 Issue 2, pp.66-97

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2020

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001948708

pISSN:

2468-5534