About
Fatema Mernissi (1940-2015) was a Moroccan sociologist, writer, and feminist, regarded as a founder of Islamic feminism. Born in Fez, she grew up in a harem, an experience recounted in her memoir Dreams of Trespass. She earned a PhD in sociology from Brandeis University (1973), taught at Mohammed V University in Rabat, and conducted research for UNESCO and the ILO. Her work explores gender dynamics in Islam and critiques patriarchal interpretations. She was co-laureate of the Prince of Asturias Award for Literature (2003) and laureate of the Erasmus Prize (2004). Her works have been translated into more than 25 languages.
* 1940-01-01 — † 2015-11-28
Major works
- Beyond the Veil: Male-Female Dynamics in a Muslim Society (1975)sociological essay
- The Veil and the Male Elite: A Feminist Interpretation of Women's Rights in Islam (1987)essay
- Islam and Democracy: Fear of the Modern World (1992)essay
- Dreams of Trespass: Tales of a Harem Girlhood (1994)memoir
Key milestones
- 1973Earned a PhD in sociology from Brandeis University.
- 2003Co-laureate of the Prince of Asturias Award for Literature with Susan Sontag.
- 2004Laureate of the Erasmus Prize on the theme 'Religion and Modernity'.
Themes
Islamic feminismwomen's rights in Islamgender dynamicscritique of patriarchal interpretatmodernity and democracy
Sources: erasmusprijs.org · fpa.es · oxfordbibliographies.com