The Subjectivation Processes of Muslim Feminist Women in Turkey and the Reconstruction of Islamic Identity

This study aims to explore the intellectual positions and subjectivation processes of Muslim feminist women in Turkey who engage with themes commonly regarded as contentious between Islam and feminism. The study examines how Islam constructs gender roles and how these roles are interpreted by women th- rough the lenses of the patriarchal construction of prophethood, the Islam-feminism intersection, the headscarf, body and sexuality, and polygamy. Conducted through a qualitative research design, the study involves semi-structured in-depth interviews with seven Muslim feminist women living in Istanbul, Ankara, and Van. Theoretically, the study draws on the concept of intersectionality and Foucault’s theory of power. The findings indicate that patriarchal practices experien- ced by these women are reinforced by interpretations of Islamic teachings that are deeply intertwined with patriarchal domination. Nevertheless, the findings reveal that participants develop a new Muslim feminist subject position that combines faith with critique, constructing an original intellectual space in which Islam and feminism intersect. These findings suggest that the subjectivation process of Muslim feminist women cannot be reduced to either a purely religious reinterpretation or a secular feminist liberation narrative.