Richardson, Beth
Tales of forced conversion in Egypt and India: a comparative analysis of the female body as a symbolic battleground in interreligious relations.
Master thesis, Master Religion Conflict and Globalisation.
Abstract
In Egypt and India there is a discourse which suggests that young women are being abducted and forcibly converted to Islam. This has led to moments of violent conflict in both countries, and a recent adaptation in legislation regarding interfaith unions in India. Whilst women are seemingly central to this narrative, female voices are rarely heard from on the matter. This raises the question of how women are viewed in the societies studied, specifically in relation to their significance as carriers of tradition and their choices surrounding marriage. Through an understanding of the historical background of interreligious strife in Egypt and India (supported by insights from Mahmood, Brownlee and Anand), together with traditional and contemporary views on female choice (drawing on the works of Armanios, Dube, Gupta, Yuval-Davis and Khatun), this thesis aims to shed light on the symbolic role of the female body within interreligious relations. Together with an analysis of primary sources from The Guardian, DAWN, The New York Times, Aljazeera, The Hindu and other news platforms, these sources show that the rumours surrounding forced
conversion in Egypt and India stand to reinforce the prevailing assumption that, of their own volition, women would not have entered into relationships with those outside their religious community, or ever wish to convert. Indeed, in some cases, these rumours have been overemphasised, legitimising a system of Othering towards Muslim men, and undermining female choice.
| Type: |
Thesis
(Master)
|
| Supervisors (RUG): |
| Supervisor | E-mail | Tutor organization | Tutor email |
|---|
| Knibbe, K.E. | | Faculteit GGW, Vergelijkende Religiewetenschap | K.E.Knibbe@rug.nl | | Berger, P. | | Faculteit GGW, Vergelijkende Religiewetenschap | P.Berger@rug.nl |
|
| Degree programme: |
Master Religion Conflict and Globalisation |
| Academic year: |
2020-2021 |
| Date of delivery: |
16 Sep 2022 14:22 |
| Last modified: |
16 Sep 2022 14:22 |
| URI: |
https://ggw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/676 |
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