Peer Research Excursions!

     I've been having so much fun being able to see all the research excursions! It's nice to see hard work pay off and this is evidently demonstrated through everyones' projects. I'm immensely proud and encouraged seeing all the different topics, research methods, and formats the excursions are in.

    First off, I enjoyed seeing Audrey's video on 'Gender Dynamics in Islam'. From her video, I was able to understand the power that interpretations of the Qur'an have on gender roles and especially how women are viewed. I was shocked to hear about the extent of male authority - which can be highlighted through 'honor killings' (instances of women being killed for undermining male authority). I appreciated the contrast of this perspective of Islam being "oppressive of women" to the perspective that Islam can be uplifting for women.

    I appreciated reading Monique's research on the Hisba (morality police). This is an area of research that I was very much interested in learning more about and it was interesting to see the evolution of the Hisba through this essay format. I assumed that the morality police was a newer concept, so it was enlightening to hear that the hisba has had a long presence within Muslim culture. Again, it was shocking to see what groups the hisba considers to be immoral.

    Lastly, I was invested in listening to Griffin's research on "Women and the Afterlife in Islam" because it offered a new take on Islamic women that I was unfamiliar with. I learned that "jana" is the Muslim word for paradise and how the concept of jana is seen through the lens of gender within Muslim culture. I thought it was interesting to see the different misconceptions that often arise around the Islamic view on jana in relation to women. In particular, I though it surprising that a "reliable" source as the New York Times would have false information on how women are not considered a part of jana. 

    Overall, I loved seeing and hearing all the different projects as it gave me more information to think about and new areas of interest for me to do my own research on.