Gonzalez, C. (2024). Navigating the patriarchy: A heuristic inquiry of the lived experience of women married in and living in Muslim law [Unpublished Master’s thesis]. Alef Trust & Liverpool John Moores University.
Muslim law is often stereotyped as oppressive to women. Despite Islam’s growth, little is known about the emotional, embodied and archetypal dimensions of women’s lives under Muslim law. This research explores the experiences of Muslim and non-Muslim women marrying and living in a Muslim-governed legal system. Using heuristic inquiry, which is autobiographical and holistic, the study employed two transpersonal arts-based methods: intuitive painting and storytelling, along with semi-structured interviews with the ten co-researchers. Findings revealed that the co-researchers, whether religious or not, had a deep love for spirituality, and for their (former) partners, despite varying relationship dynamics. Women experienced a range of emotions and psychological responses to systemic patriarchal influences, from naivete, codependency, and rebellion, to healing and agency. Key results highlighted the importance of being informed about financial support rights and circumventing patriarchal inheritance laws. Additionally, the study found that a healthy masculine allowed women to explore more receptive, surrendered roles, while remaining empowered and whole. The research concludes with a call for more “Sisterhood” gatherings to inform women of their Islamic rights, and strategies to navigate outdated laws and cultural and family pressure. Overall female-male dynamics deserve greater exploration. Arts- based research has great value in transcending ego defenses, and worth exploring in gender relations or entrenched societal conflicts. Limitations, including time constraints, are discussed. Future studies are suggested with mothers who were denied child custody, Muslim husbands, and other cultural and intersectional groups.
