Faith, Gender, and Agency: Muslim American Women Navigating Academia

• In Event: Navigating Faith, Identity, and Education: A MusCrit Exploration Across Academic Spheres

Abstract

This action research explores the unique experiences of Muslim American women on college
campuses and their use of spirituality as a coping strategy during a pivotal time in their lives. Based on
data collected from 10 Muslim American women college students, this research underscores the
significance of spiritual activism. It highlights how these Muslim American women utilize spiritual
activism to navigate their academic experiences, cope with challenges, and nurture resilience.
Scholarship on Muslim American women on college campuses emphasizes the intersecting
perspectives of gender, race, class, and sexuality that impact their college experiences (Alimahomed -
Wilson, 2020). This gendered perspective recognizes the unique challenges that Muslim American
women face in educational settings while navigating academia. The participants in this research have
responded to these challenges by using spiritual activism as a transformative tool to reshape their
everyday experiences (Keating, 2008; Salazar & Perez, 2020). Moreover, such studies underscore the
resilience and agency of Muslim women as they create supportive networks and advocate for greater
inclusion and understanding within their college spaces.
By examining their multifaceted identities and experiences, this research sheds light on the
complexities of navigating college experiences. Drawing on Muslim Critical Theory (MusCrit) as a
framework for analyzing these experiences, this research explores the unique challenges that Muslim
American women face in higher education (Ali, 2022). MusCrit underscores the importance of
understanding how these intersecting identities shape the experiences of Muslim individuals,
particularly in a context where they face systemic marginalization.
This research emphasizes the diverse experiences of Muslim American women advocating for a
more supportive academic space. The experiences of Muslim American women students in academia
are profoundly influenced by their gendered and religious identities. These identities shape their

academic journey, presenting unique challenges. This study contributes to a broader dialogue of Muslim
women students in higher education by sharing their narratives and engagement in spiritual activism.
Muslim women's groups on campus provided a safe space where members could openly express
themselves, foster solidarity, and collaboratively address challenges. These efforts are particularly
significant in combating Islamophobia and creating a collective support network. These engagements
work to dismantle biases and empower themselves and their peers. This collective activism has proved
vital in promoting their agency, empowering them to navigate academic and personal challenges more
effectively.

Author

• Fatima Koura, Northeastern University