Islam, Women and the Role of the State in Senegal

Although Senegalese women are beginning to move into the modern sector and keep up with their male peers they are still distinctly behind in terms of power status and access to resources. Religion does not currently distinguish among those who will and those who will not have opportunities; yet it certainly has an impact on womens behavior and mens attitudes as well. This paper examines to what extent the nature of Senegalese Islam and its interplay with pre-Islamic local cultures and the colonial state has determined the kind of impact Islam presently has on womens role. Four major points were identified in this discussion. First the development of the state of Senegal the interdependency of the government and the Muslim leaders restricted the authority of either over the society. Second Islamic beliefs and the cultural baggage which accompanied it had influenced the role of women generally reducing their public authority and responsibility. In addition pre-Islamic traditions were noted to play a more important role among those converted. This reinforces the first point of the discussion. Finally the spread of education and the increasing economic opportunities drawing women out of the traditional subsistence sector even in rural areas have neutralized the conservativeness of major Muslim leaders.