Formation of ‘religious’ identity among British Muslim women

This chapter explains how Muslim women are generally disadvantaged in the UK, as reflected in their high unemployment and inactivity rates compared to their male counterparts and other ethnic minority women, despite policies to reduce the diversity gap in the UK labour market based on gender and religious affiliations. Applying feminist theory and questioning Muslim women's place as a marginalized group at the centre of social inquiry, the chapter aims to understand the ways in which Muslim women negotiate religious and cultural norms and values. Studies indicate a feminist consciousness tapping into the Islamic framework as an enabling means for personal empowering in a rapidly changing world that challenges traditional gender issues.