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Motivations: What Motivates Muslim Women to Participate in Politics?

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Muslim Women’s Political Participation in France and Belgium

Part of the book series: New Directions in Islam ((NDI))

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Abstract

Chapter Two explores the motivations to participate in politics expressed by Muslim women in the study. In an attempt to better understand features that differentiate Muslim women’s motivations to participate in politics from those of the wider population, the chapter affords specific focus to the notion of ‘European Islam’ and the extent to which, if at all, it motivates Muslim women’s political participation in politics. Here, comparative analysis reveals the contextually-imposed constraints regarding explicitly identifying with Islam within the framework of motivations and also considers the role of expressing such motivations in the broader scheme of countering dominant Islamophobic narratives. In addition, the chapter explores more generalised motivations to participate in politics, including the role of political efficacy, altruism, social justice and social identification. Furthermore, the interplay of expressed motivations with the nature of Muslim women’s political participation is explored.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Three of eleven French interviewees expressed a clear and complete identification with ‘European Islam’, whilst others held varying opinions ranging from partial identification to compete rejection of the concept.

  2. 2.

    ‘The Pillars of Islam’ incorporate fundamental Islamic beliefs and include the belief in the oneness of God, the belief the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the final messenger, practising the five daily prayers, fasting from sunrise to sunset during the Islamic month of Ramadan, giving charity to the poor and performing the pilgrimage, Hajj.

  3. 3.

    Here and in the extract below, the name of the organisation has been intentionally omitted to protect the anonymity of the interviewees.

  4. 4.

    The French feminist organisation, NPNS, was consulted by the government’s Stasi commission prior to the implementation of the 2004 headscarf ban. See Amara (2004) and Baubérot (2004). The organisation is predominantly made up of ethnic minority women in France, but it is also recognised for its ‘Republican feminist’ stance, meaning that they were largely supportive of banning the headscarf in French schools.

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  1. De Montfort University, Leicester, UK

    Amina Easat-Daas

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  1. Amina Easat-Daas
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Easat-Daas, A. (2020). Motivations: What Motivates Muslim Women to Participate in Politics?. In: Muslim Women’s Political Participation in France and Belgium . New Directions in Islam. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-48725-6_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-48725-6_2

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