Female Imams

Hi Everyone,

Here's what I dug up on the issue of female imams to far:

Dr. Amina Wadud, a professor of Islamic Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University, was the first woman (at least the only one we've ever heard of) to lead prayers in a mixed male-female congregation of Muslims. She led this much-publicized prayer in March of 2005 in the basement of a church in New York City. Area mosques refused to host her and an art gallery had to cancel after receiving a bomb threat. Wadud is the author of Qur'an and Women, which re-reads the most sacred text of Islam from a woman's perspective. Wadud has been sharply criticized by both Muslims authorities abroad and here in the United States who argue that women are not permitted to lead prayers, especially when men are present. She has been applauded by the self-labeled "progressive" Muslim organizations of North America, especially ones with a feminist bent.

Since Wadud lead these controversial prayers, I haven't found much else in the way of Muslim women trying to become imams. At least one other woman in Massachusetts has led prayers but in an all-female congregation. It is interesting to note that I found evidence that there are quite a few female Imams in China and Germany, but really none whatsoever in the United States. Especially in such a socially liberal area like New York, this is surprising to me.

I was also surprised to learn of the relatively lukewarm reception given to Wadud by Muslim women's organizations. All of their official statements on the issue seem hesitant to either endorse her or reject her. What I'm not sure of is if they are hesitant because they fear that female imams will break Islamic law, or if they are just not willing to buck cultural tradition on this particular issue. It's almost as if they are choosing their battles, and female imams is not shaping up to be one of them.

Overall, the movement for female imams seems tied with a movement for increased opportunities for Muslim women to become religious authorities in an official capacity. But this effort is primarily led by small liberal, feminist organizations based in North America and lacking legitimacy in the rest of the Muslim community. It also seems sporadic; since this one culminating event with Wadud that drew so much attention, the scene has been quiet. And that makes me wonder why...

That's all for now.

Jenn: Anarchists: This city is a (d)rag and I'm a molotv cocktail

Hey everyone, Jenn here -- my name appears as "was raw" because I have another blog on this website, so sorry about the confusion.

I've been trying to throw around some different ideas -- reporting on music or street art (two passions of mine). However, I kept going back to the topic of anarchists (it drew my attention more) so I guess it's a sign, huh?

My main interest is how anarchy is executed in modern day NYC. I'd like to tie this into the (brutally true) complain that "NYC is no fun anymore." The condos, indecently expensive "boutiques," and trust-fund hipsters have rolled out across the city over the past decade faster than red carpet on premier night. Somehow, the city has gotten more expensive, and any tolerance for the poor, affordable housing, free events, and especially community spaces (and Astroland!) has been thrown out the window.

While back in the '60s and '70s anarchists were spotted squatting apartments in the Lower East Side, and even up to the '80s creating community gardens, that is no longer possible today. The main event where the notion of "anarchy" takes center stage is through Critical Mass.

Critical Mass is a gathering of anywhere from a couple to hundreds of bike riders who then "take back the streets" for non-polluting transportation.

Below the radar is the NYMAA, an anarchist group with a constitution and congressional meetings. In the middle, with slight media attention, is the Hungry March Band, an anarchist marching band.

This leads to many questions. Many questions.

How has space became an issue in these groups? How do you consolidate the notions of "anarchy" with a group that has a constitution? How many people who consider themselves anarchists have day jobs? Do the demands of this city force idealists to compromise, for instance, being a slave to the establishment (job)? How has anarchy and its ideals been changed by the city?

While I'd like to delve deeper than the whole "It's not easy being black" (the anarchist flag is black), I think it's a marketable story, considering many people are under the false pretense that either a)there are no anarchists in NYC or b) what's an anarchist???? The topic has received very little coverage - even in the Village Voice.

Alright, Seacrest Out