Religion, Culture, and the Politics of Gender: A Feminist Study of Malala's Struggle for Girls' Education in Swat
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| Title: | Religion, Culture, and the Politics of Gender: A Feminist Study of Malala's Struggle for Girls' Education in Swat |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Farkhanda Shahid Khan (ORCID |
| Source: | Gender and Education. 2026 38(3):281-295. |
| Availability: | Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 15 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Evaluative |
| Descriptors: | Foreign Countries, Womens Education, Islam, Religious Education, Feminism, Sex Fairness, Equal Education, Trauma, Gender Discrimination, Access to Education, Politics of Education, Advocacy |
| Geographic Terms: | Pakistan |
| DOI: | 10.1080/09540253.2026.2617574 |
| ISSN: | 0954-0253 1360-0516 |
| Abstract: | This article problematizes the intertwining of Islamic traditions and cultural norms in the Swat Valley of Pakistan, examining how an intricate analogy of religious practices, Taliban-imposed Sharia law, and tribal patriarchy marginalizes women's access to education as portrayed in Malala Yousafzai's memoir "I Am Malala." It argues that cultural politics in Swat infringe women's right to education and overlook Islam's potential for gender equality. The study challenges essentialist views of gender by presenting it as a dynamic societal construct and further arguing that women in the Swat Valley suffer oppression and trauma due to the Taliban's politicizing of Islam and patriarchal ideologies masked under the notion of Islamisation. Through a transnational feminist lens, the study highlights how Islam supports women's education without any gender discrimination. The article concludes that women's mired access to education in Swat is a result of cultural politics, the Taliban's religiopolitical discourse, and its distorted alignment with Islamic traditions. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1503427 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | This article problematizes the intertwining of Islamic traditions and cultural norms in the Swat Valley of Pakistan, examining how an intricate analogy of religious practices, Taliban-imposed Sharia law, and tribal patriarchy marginalizes women's access to education as portrayed in Malala Yousafzai's memoir "I Am Malala." It argues that cultural politics in Swat infringe women's right to education and overlook Islam's potential for gender equality. The study challenges essentialist views of gender by presenting it as a dynamic societal construct and further arguing that women in the Swat Valley suffer oppression and trauma due to the Taliban's politicizing of Islam and patriarchal ideologies masked under the notion of Islamisation. Through a transnational feminist lens, the study highlights how Islam supports women's education without any gender discrimination. The article concludes that women's mired access to education in Swat is a result of cultural politics, the Taliban's religiopolitical discourse, and its distorted alignment with Islamic traditions. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0954-0253 1360-0516 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/09540253.2026.2617574 |
