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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Shirin Neshat

…my interest in the subject of women is partially due to the fact that as a woman I feel closer and more sympathetic toward their situation living under oppressive societies. But also, because I believe in Islamic societies such as in Iran, by studying the predicament of the women, one could learn about the overall ideological structure of the political system that rules the country.

Shirin Neshat stated in an interview by John LeKay

photo of Shirin Neshat Photo Credit: Owen Hoffmann/PatrickMcMullan/Sipa Press/AP Images

Known For: Artist
Country: United States

About

Shirin Neshat is a well-known Iranian artist whose work addresses women in Islam. Neshat was born in Iran into an upper middle-class family. She attended a Catholic boarding school in Tehran, then moved to Los Angeles at age 17 to study art. She returned to Tehran, but moved back to the United States a year after the 1979 Iranian revolution, this time to the San Francisco Bay area. She eventually enrolled at the University of California at Berkeley, from which she earned a B.A., an M.A, and a Masters of Fine Art. 

After graduating, Neshat moved to New York, where she began to work as an artist. Her first project, “Women of Allah,” was inspired by a visit to Iran in 1990, where she saw firsthand what drastic changes had occurred since she had left ten years before.  “Women of Allah” is comprised of a series of portraits of Muslim women overlaid with Persian calligraphy.

Neshat has also created short films and sound installations, and she won first prize at the 1999 Venice Biennale for her installation, “Turbulent.”  Since then, she has worked on a few short films, as well as a feature-length film based on Shahrnush Parsipur’s novel, Women without Men.

Neshat continues to exhibit her work in both solo and group exhibitions around the world. 

Sources

Shirin Neshat

Faces of Successful Iranian Americans: Shirin Neshat: Pursuing a Dream

Videos

Shirin Neshat’s Work

More Information

Photo Essay- Shirin Neshat

Shirin Neshat

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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.