Muslim Women: Past and Present

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Throughout the ages, from the earliest days of Islam to contemporary times today, Muslim women have been and continue to be active leaders in their communities and countries across the world. This directory is a growing archive of leading Muslim women scholars, activists, writers, politicians, artists, religious and spiritual leaders, civil society leaders and more. Please contribute to this archive by suggesting Muslim women to be featured through our recommendation form.

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Pamela Taylor

photo of Pamela Taylor

Known For: Co-founder of Muslims for Progressive Values, On Faith panelist
Country: United States

About

Pamela Taylor was born in Arlington, Virginia and raised outside of Boston, Massachusetts.  She embraced Islam when she was in her early 20s.  She co-founded Muslims for Progressive Values (MPV), an organization that describes itself as “an inclusive community rooted in the traditional Quranic ideals of human dignity and social justice.”1 Previously, she served as a member of the board of advisors to Michael Lerner’s Network of Spiritual Progressives.

In July 2005, She delivered the sermon and led congregational prayers at the United Muslim Association mosque in Toronto, Ontario.  The former mufti of Marseille, Suheib Ben Cheikh, expressed his support of female imams by praying in a mixed congregation behind her in February of 2006.

In conjunction and in addition to her activism, Pamela writes in many genres. She writes for The Washington Post’s On Faith blog, a “forum for news and opinion on religion and politics.”2 She was formerly a regular contributor to progressive website Muslimwakeup.com.  She publishes opinion pieces with the Religion News Service, and has contributed articles to newspapers such as the Dallas Morning News and the Altanta Journal-Constitution. Pamela’s essays appear in books including Nurturing Child and Adolescent Spirituality: Perspectives from the World’s Religious Traditions and The Veil: Women Writers on Its History, Lore, and Politics.  Pamela is also an award-winning poet and science-fiction and fantasy writer. Her story “Recompense” appears in the Muslim sci-fi anthology, A Mosque Among the Stars.  Pamela is a past director of the Islamic Writers Alliance (IWA), an international non-profit organization that promotes and supports Muslim women writers. The IWA published a journal called Islamic Ink and currently publishes its quarterly successor, IWA Magazine. IWA published an anthology of Muslim women’s writing, Many Voices, One Faith. 

She currently resides in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband, four daughters, and two cats.

Sources

Muslims for Progressive Values.
On Faith, The Washington Post.

More Information

Pamela K. Taylor’s Official Website

Archive of Pamela’s contributions to The Washington Post’s blog On Faith

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This search feature will enable you to find Muslim women chronologically by the Common Era century. We are actively building the archive of Muslim women leaders from the past, as well as from today, and we would welcome your recommendations of women to feature. Please complete our “Recommend Muslim Women” form and check the site again in the near future as we actively expand this section of the portal with your suggestions.
This search feature will enable you to find Muslim women by their Country. We are actively building the archive of Muslim women leaders from the past, as well as from today, and we would welcome your recommendations of women to feature. Please complete our “Recommend Muslim Women” form and check the site again in the near future as we actively expand this section of the portal with your suggestions.
This search feature will enable you to find Muslim women leaders by entering the keyword(s) of your choice. If you cannot find a particular woman that you are looking for, please let us know by completing our “Recommend Muslim Women” form and check the site again in the near future as we actively expand this section of the portal with your suggestions.