Weibliche Räume in muslimischen Gesellschaften Westafrikas

Abstract

Abstract

West African countries are majority Muslim but secular states. In Senegal, there is the interesting case of the Muslim Brotherhoods and, at the same time, an important Peasant Movement and women’s groups who are both acting as forces of Civil Society and negotiating terms of co-operation. Female social spaces exist in many societies whose boundaries are very diverse, which very often dwindle in the course of socioeconomic change. The interesting point is to follow how they are linked to the overall system through the public sphere, how is difference maintained, how can and do women nevertheless claim equity in society and the political system, including at the local level. As to the social and cultural embeddedness of women’s economic activities, trade as a female activity is often very important. However, WID programmes tend to informalise their economic activities and construct women’s role in the family and being vulnerable at the same time. In public discourse women’s rights are important, but it is more and more common, either by referring to „African culture“, sense of „community“ or by religion(meaning Islam) to dequalify debates by women’s movements which are silenced 398 Summaries by being Western and feminist. When looking at ongoing debates and negotiations on gender relations in public sphere, identity discourses can be challenged by looking at the constitution of translocal female spaces. Debates on other Muslim countries outside Africa are stressing the importance of diversity instead of dualistic positioning, the instrumentalisation of women for nationbuilding and other processes such as the construction of the „other“. Apart from the usefulness of the concept of civil society, there are new epistemic communities debating on the concept of public spheres and public Islam, embracing societal transformations.