Women and Religion in the Middle East and the Mediterranean

The essays in this anthology all address two central questions: Is religion the sacred justification of oppressive patriarchal societies? Or does religion provide a possibility for independent action, an arena for autonomous female activities?

Western, liberal, and democratic societies are often seen as being founded on the rejection of tradition and the deliberate displacement of religion from the public to the private sphere.

In concordance with this view, tradition, and the influence of religion are regarded as obstacles to the implementation of women's rights in Middle Eastern societies.

With examples drawn from ancient Greece and Rome, ancient Judea, and 19th century Turkey, Palestine and Iran, these essays demonstrate that this is not the whole story.

If we are to enter into a dialogue between East and West on the topic of women's rights, we need to know more about the possibilities that are realised within tradition.

This may point the way to a more constructive discourse also on other, politically more pressing issues with Middle Eastern societies in general and Islam in particular.