Women, Islam and Modernity

In SOC885: Women, Islam and Modernity taught by Professor Amina Jamal, students explore the diverse experiences, identities, and histories of Muslim women in Canada and around the world. The course examines the position of women and gender in contemporary Muslim societies and within North American Muslim communities. Students compare life in Muslim women’s homelands with their experiences living in the diaspora. They talk about identity, veiling, family life, activism, and how conflict affects their daily lives. They also look at current issues in Islam, including what Muslim women face in war zones and how they take part in political and social movements in the United States and Canada.

To build on what they learn in class, students take part in a Community Engaged Learning and Teaching (CELT) project developed in collaboration with Dr. Reena Tandon, which involves creating a public poster exhibit that transforms academic research into accessible, community-centered storytelling.

Working in groups, students choose topics that show the complexity of Muslim women’s lives and create research-based posters that challenge common stereotypes. Their work highlights the diversity within Muslim communities and shows the leadership, activism, and resilience of Muslim women in different places and situations. Many posters explain how Muslim women take part in political organizing, use social media to speak out, and deal with overlapping forms of discrimination, including Islamophobia, gender inequality, racism, and homophobia.

This assignment asks students to combine ideas from scholars and explain them in clear, easy-to-understand language for a public audience. Using course themes like identity, diaspora, family life, and activism, students learn to turn complex academic ideas into visuals and stories that make sense to people outside the classroom. By mixing research with creative design, they not only show what they have learned but also encourage discussion and help others better understand the experiences of Muslim women.

Through this hands-on project, students move beyond writing traditional essays and engage with knowledge in ways that feel active, collaborative, and socially meaningful. The upcoming public exhibit will let them share what they have learned with the TMU community and help create a more thoughtful and informed conversation about the experiences and contributions of Muslim women today.

The showcse will take place on December 1.
Time: 11:00 AM EST - 1:00 PM EST
Location: SLC Amphitheatre