Dr Qazi Sarah Rasheed
GENDER.ED Postdoctoral Fellowship, September 2024 - April 2025
Independent Researcher
I hold a PhD in Sociology from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. My research, titled "Islamic Feminism in India: A Case Study of Muslim Women Activists in the City of Lucknow," provides a nuanced perspective on the experiences of Muslim women in India. It challenges simplistic narratives that portray them solely as passive victims of discriminatory religious family laws. Instead, it highlights how factors such as poverty, traditional customs, societal pressures, and legal complexities collectively restrict their agency in marriage, divorce, and other aspects of life. My academic interests revolve around the intersection of gender, religion, and law. I aim to integrate academic insights with practical advocacy to address gender inequality and emphasize the agency and resilience of Muslim women navigating structural and socio-cultural challenges in India.
Project title: Exploring Hidden Narratives: Agency and Activism among Shia Muslim Women through the Lens of Majlis
This research builds on my doctoral work on Sunni Muslim women's activism in Lucknow, aiming to delve into a less explored area: Shia Muslim women's activism in India. While Sunni women publicly advocate for equal rights and family law reforms, Shia women primarily engage through private religious gatherings known as majlis. This study seeks to investigate how participation in majlis serves as a form of activism, enabling Shia women to assert their agency within their cultural and religious contexts. Unlike traditional perspectives that emphasize visible actions as indicators of agency, this research focuses on nuanced yet impactful behaviors within the majlis setting, such as personal reflection, strategic communication, and community support. These practices are integral to understanding how Shia women, belonging to a minority sect within India's broader Muslim community, shape their activism and societal roles. By highlighting these less visible forms of engagement, this research aims to offer deeper insights into activism that extend beyond conventional public spheres.