Article by UCI Law Graduate Bethool Zehra Haider ’23 on the Social and Legal Construction of Muslim Women Published in the Berkeley Journal of Gender, Law & Justice
IRVINE, Calif. (Oct. 5, 2023) — The University of California, Irvine School of Law (UCI Law) is pleased to announce the publication of an article by recent graduate Bethool Zehra Haider (’23) in the Berkeley Journal of Gender, Law & Justice.
The article, "Asking the Muslim Woman Question: Understanding the Social and Legal Construction of Muslim Women," 38 Berkeley Journal of Gender, Law & Justice 81 (2023), explores the experiences, challenges and societal perceptions faced by veiled Muslim women, particularly within the legal profession. Drawing from her personal journey as a hijabi and merging it with academic analysis, Haider brings to light the longstanding stereotypes and biases rooted in Orientalist and imperialist narratives and examines the broader history and context in which Muslim women navigate societal and professional spaces.
In the article, Haider emphasizes the need for re-education and the importance of inclusivity, and urges the legal community — including legal institutions, firms and professionals — to introspect, understand, and rectify inherent biases that perpetuate stereotypes against Muslim women. Specifically, Haider's recommendations include updating diversity training materials to include cultural information about Muslim women, encouraging implicit bias testing about misperceptions of Muslim women, and advocating for legal protection, akin to those protecting natural hair rights, to support the choice of wearing a hijab in workplaces.
Haider also encourages direct engagement by “welcoming veiled Muslim women to speak about their own gender, religion, and stature without preconceived notions” which “makes room for Muslim women — and thereby Muslims as a group — to enter professional and traditionally closed-off spaces with ease, and to be a part of the conversation.”
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