Islam and Gender: Legitimizing Patriarchy in a Ghanaian Muslim Community

Gender discrimination is ubiquitous and is as old as the emergence of human societies. Women are subjugated and are made to occupy demeaning positions in both private and public life in a socio-cultural structure known as patriarchy. In contemporary Ghana, women in general and Muslim women, in particular, continue to suffer from these injustices due to the persistence of patriarchy. Factors such as culture, tradition and religious beliefs are used to exert influence on women and children. Irrespective of the emphasis Islam places on gender justice and equality between men and women, Ghanaian Muslim women are made to accept the scriptural interpretation which promotes male authority over women and contribute towards the marginalization of the women and children. This thesis was to investigate the extent to which scriptural interpretations of the Muslim scholars and other factors such as culture and tradition promote patriarchy in the Greater Accra Muslim community of Ghana. The research took a qualitative case study design and adopted fieldwork and theological approaches to analyze the data collected. The study showed that although some Muslim scholars address the concerns of some Muslim women, some of the scholars continue to use actions and words to disregard the rights of women and children. It is expected that the findings of this thesis will help address some of the challenges of Muslim women through the application of the recommendation provided and the drafting of gender-related policies in the Muslim community.