Islamic feminist liberation psychology and peacebuilding: Case studies of Muslim women in community organizing in restorative justice and parenting.

Abstract

Depictions of Muslims as violent and misogynistic in the media require a theoretical and concrete response from Muslims, particularly Muslim women. The tradition of liberation psychology (LP) contains a framework for theorizing alternatives to hegemonic narratives in the foundational concepts of deideologizing reality and utilizing the virtues of the people. Islamic feminist LP, a rapidly expanding field of liberation theory, has a particular interest in these concepts. This article contributes to the building of Islamic feminist LP by exploring peacebuilding in the work of three women in the San Francisco Bay Area community as key informants. These women's experiences in community organizing around parenting and restorative justice show how Muslim women are transforming society through peacebuilding. Public Significance StatementThis article contributes new ideas to the growing field of Islamic liberation psychology. Additionally, the use of case studies to present evidence contributes to the possibilities of research outside of the academy. The conclusion that Muslim women are working toward peace in their day-to-day lives through restorative justice and parenting elevates the voices of Muslim women as they are, separate from media representations.

Decolonization unnamed: Echoes of healing and refusal in the face of dehumanization and alienation.

“…This focus on collectivity as antidote to alienation and dehumanization resonates in Sarah Mohr's article in this special issue. Mohr (2023) articulates the ways in which Muslim women in the Global North settings of the United States' practice restorative justice and healing through relationality. She theorizes that how Muslim women she works with created possibilities for healing and transformation through practice-through parenting, midwifery, restorative work, community organizing, and more.…”