After some extended discussions with several female Muslim scholars whom I respect greatly, I've decided that I won't participate in any Muslim program or conference where the organizers have not made exhaustive, good faith efforts to include women in a way demographically representative of the subject or field.
There has been much very valid discussion of all-male panels, etc., but a lingering concern has been how often these discussions embed sectarian or ideological agendas (I've often noted how what seem like valid calls for events to include women scholars are really calls for practicing, mainstream Muslim organizations or forums to include participants whose views are marginal, heretical or outside the bounds of Islam altogether).
The female scholars I was talking to suggested that we work to compile a list of female Muslim scholars who are fully qualified academically and also stand firmly by the Islamic tradition. I have a good number of names, and I'm collecting more (BTW please suggest names in comments on this post).
I know that there are all sorts of circumstances and factors affecting who is on a panel or in a conference, even assuming all are fully qualified: availability, cost, their specific focus or expertise, the relevance of their background, or the simple odd realities of distribution (e.g., there are far fewer female scholars in the West in the field of hadith than in law).
But there are now a substantial number of qualified, committed female Muslim scholars who are accomplished in their fields and engaging as speakers and instructors. It is simply unconscionable that Muslims not invite them; our tradition has never looked at gender or race as factors in scholarly value but only at what 'ilm nafi' (beneficial knowledge) a person offered.
So, anyone who wants to have this list of names, I'm happy to share it. And if you invite me to a conference or panel or event, and you haven't contacted the relevant individuals on it, please get back to me when you have.
*This policy does not apply to programs that I've already committed to doing.
**One could always invite Emmy-and-Peabody-award-winning journalist Laila Al-Arian, and I can throw in a few other experts on beyblade, recommended beyblade purchases, how no one should touch their beyblade, at no extra cost...
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from Islam http://bit.ly/31JECnU
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