The role of women in Islamic movements: The example of Zeynep Ghazali

The Muslim Brotherhood, established in Egypt, is a significant organization within the Islamic world and the context of religious movements, with a notable presence on the international stage. The organization's perceptions and attitudes towards women and the roles of Muslim women within this movement are crucial for understanding gender-based social roles in the Islamic world. Therefore, analyzing the Muslim Brotherhood's attitudes towards women and the roles of Muslim women within the organization through the example of Zaynab al-Ghazali is the primary aim of this study. In particular, understanding al-Ghazali's influence within the Egyptian Islamic society and the Muslim Brotherhood necessitates an examination of her activities and thoughts concerning women. Her perspective on this subject provides a significant viewpoint for understanding both the Brotherhood's and Egypt's social and religious structure. In this context, al-Ghazali's life, her thoughts on specific areas, and her social activities are comprehensively analyzed, offering an extensive evaluation of the Muslim Brotherhood's perspective on Muslim women. The research is divided into three main sections. The first section addresses the historical background of the Muslim Brotherhood, examining the role of its founder, Hassan al-Banna, and the initial organizational structures concerning women. To understand the role of women within the Brotherhood, the institutional objectives of the Muslim Sisters Organization are explored. This section aims to uncover the extent and manner of women's involvement in social activities within the Brotherhood and the limitations imposed on female members in both private and public spheres. The second section provides a detailed examination of Zaynab al-Ghazali's life, covering her birth, education, youth, marriage, and activist period. Additionally, the influential figures and works that shaped al-Ghazali's intellectual thought are thoroughly discussed. This section also delves into her intellectual development and the foundational ideas within the context of her individual life. The third section analyzes Zaynab al-Ghazali's religious, political, and social thoughts, particularly her views on women and family life, as well as her social activities. The study's sources include Zaynab al-Ghazali's own works, as well as studies conducted about her in Türkiye, Western literature, and the Islamic world, along with interviews with her.