ISLAMIC FEMINISM IN MOROCCO: A GENERATIONAL COMPARISON BETWEEN FATIMA MERNISSI AND ASMA LAMRABET

Abstract

This article aims to analyse Islamic feminism in Morocco through the exegetical work carried out by two Moroccan activists, Fatima Mernissi (1940-2015) and Asma Lamrabet (b. 1961). Through a study of the traditional Islamic theories and texts translated by them, these two scholars illustrate a generational change in Moroccan activism. Using a theoretical framework such as the one proposed by anthropologist Talal Asad regarding Islam’s discursive tradition, it can instead be seen that, rather than a true generational change, what is occurring is a normal evolution of the primary theory attributable to Mernissi. With Lamrabet’s generation this theory is becoming completely global, following specific historical and political events that have characterised Moroccan history.