The relationship between Islamism and women in civil society: a look at Turkey and Egypt

Abstract

In the lead up to the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, the U.S. Government emphasized how the military intervention would liberate Afghani women from the Taliban, echoing an old colonial discourse that Muslim women need saving. This study reviews the effects of Islamism, especially when it influences political decisions, on women. In particular, the study focuses on whether there is a correlation between rising Islamism and women in civil society in Turkey and Egypt through the variables of political, educational, and employment opportunities.