Revelation to Regulation: Exploring Misconstrued Perceptions of Sexual Health in Arab American Muslim Women Open Access
Yehia, Alaa (Fall 2025)
Abstract
This thesis examines how Islamic bioethics, Islamic feminist theory, and the intersecting forces of Orientalism and patriarchy shape the autonomy and agency of Arab Muslim women (AAMW) in the realm of sexual health. It argues that AAMW’s healthcare experiences are influenced by religious and cultural values that have been historically shaped, and constrained, by patriarchal structures and Orientalist ideologies that define their sexuality and autonomy. By analyzing how these frameworks are reinforced through patriarchal interpretations of the Qur’an and Western Orientalist representations, the thesis demonstrates their continued impact on AAMW’s sexual health decision-making today. The study challenges dominant narratives that position Arab Muslim women as symbols of cultural honor and sexual propriety, revealing how such constructions impact their choices in regards to sexual health. Through a critical evaluation of both secular Western bioethics and traditional Islamic bioethics, the thesis shows that these approaches inadequately address the specific needs of AAMW, as they fail to account for the intersection of cultural, religious, and gendered power structures that shape AAMW’s healthcare experiences. In response, the thesis advocates for an Islamic feminist bioethics that centers the lived experiences of AAMW, affirms their agency, and offers a culturally responsive framework for care. This approach challenges patriarchal interpretations of religious texts and calls for a bioethics attentive to the structural and historical forces that continue to shape women’s autonomy within healthcare contexts. Ultimately, the thesis advances a model of bioethics that recognizes the entangled relationships among culture, religion, gender, and power, and seeks to promote equitable, ethical, and responsive care for Arab American Muslim women.
Table of Contents
I. Introduction 1
Definitions and Clarifications 5
Orientalism 5
Arab American Muslim Women 5
Limitations 7
II. Chapter 1: The Main Problem- Linking Sexual Health with Autonomy 8
Complexity of the term: Autonomy in Bioethics and Islamic Bioethics 9
Islamic Bioethics 9
Autonomy 12
The Question (Denial) of Arab Muslim Women’s Autonomy 14
Conclusion 16
III. Chapter 2: The Formation of Arab-Muslim Women’s Image 17
The perception of the Arab Muslim Woman’s Sexuality 18
Pre-colonial Arab-Islamic societies (seventh - fourteenth centuries) 18
Orientalist depictions of Arab Muslim Women (Colonial) 20
The response of the Arab-Muslim World (1980s) 21
A Feminist Tafsīr to Discussions and Depictions of Sex in the Qur'an 22
Contraception 22
IV. Chapter 3: The Bearer of Honor: The Sexual Agency of AAMW & Barriers to Healthcare Imposed 28
Barriers to Accessing Reproductive and sexual health services (community, healthcare and internal) 29
Restrictions/miscommunications from HCP’s 36
What does this mean for Arab American Muslim Woman’s Autonomy? 38
V. Chapter 4: The Need for an Islamic Feminist Bioethics 40
1. Including Muslim Women’s Voices 40
2. Examination of Biases by Clinicians & Seeing AAMW As Whole People 41
3. Re-visiting the Definition of Autonomy 42
What a Feminist Islamic Bioethics Can Achieve 43
Appendix 45
The classical process of tafsīr 45
How Colonialism and Patriarchy Impacted Tafsīr 49
The Gendered Nature of Colonial Knowledge Production 51
References 54
About this Master's Thesis
| School | |
|---|---|
| Department | |
| Degree | |
| Submission | |
| Language |
|
| Research Field | |
| Keyword | |
| Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor | |
| Committee Members |
Primary PDF
| Thumbnail | Title | Date Uploaded | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Revelation to Regulation: Exploring Misconstrued Perceptions of Sexual Health in Arab American Muslim Women () | 2025-12-16 14:34:28 -0500 |
|
Supplemental Files
| Thumbnail | Title | Date Uploaded | Actions |
|---|