Gender and Patriarchy in the Films of Muslim Nations

Given challenges in understandings of the constructions of gender in Muslim dominant countries, the medium of film is uniquely positioned to provide a conduit into gender issues that characterize diverse Muslim cultures. This filmography provides analyses of gender issues featured in 57 contemporary feature films from Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, and Turkey.

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There are 49 Muslim-majority countries in the world and Islam is the world's second largest religion. Yet many in the West are misinformed about Islam and Muslim worldviews. Issues related to gender norms are especially subject to misconceptions.

This filmography analyzes gender issues in 56 feature films from Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan and Turkey, with a focus on religious, legal and patriarchal legitimization of practices such as female genital mutilation, child marriage, virginity testing, public sexual harassment and molestation, and honor killings.