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The Impact of Islamic Feminism in Empowering Women’s Entrepreneurship in Conflict Zones: Evidence from Afghanistan, Iraq and Palestine

Author

Listed:
  • Doaa Althalathini

    (Oxford Brookes University)

  • Haya Al-Dajani

    (Mohammed Bin Salman College for Business and Entrepreneurship)

  • Nikolaos Apostolopoulos

    (Neapolis University Paphos)

Abstract

The impact of Islam upon women’s entrepreneurship in conflict zones is woefully absent from the entrepreneurship literature. This is due to the absence of published scholarship about this context rather than the absence of Muslim women’s entrepreneurship there. To address the gap in the literature, we offer a contextualized analysis and contribution by adopting an Islamic feminism lens and explore how Islamic feminism empowers women entrepreneurs and their entrepreneurial activities and behaviours in conflict zones. We argue that Islamic feminism is a process of ‘ijtihad’ shaping the business ethics of Muslim women entrepreneurs operating in conflict zones and removing the traditional, patriarchal, colonial and other cultural layers with which Islam has been veiled. The findings from the 16 Muslim women entrepreneurs operating in Afghanistan, Iraq and Palestine and participating in our study reveal that Islamic religiousness plays a critical role in shaping the Muslim women’s entrepreneurial behaviour and their ability to endure the hardships of living in a conflict zone. Within all three research contexts, the participants interpreted and practiced their Islamic religiousness in ways consistent with Islamic Feminism principles and that deviated from patriarchal Islam dominating their conflict zones. This paper contributes to the growing research areas on Islamic feminist foundations for business ethics and women’s entrepreneurship in conflict zones by exploring how Islamic feminism empowers women entrepreneurs in Muslim conflict zones.

Suggested Citation

  • Doaa Althalathini & Haya Al-Dajani & Nikolaos Apostolopoulos, 2022. "The Impact of Islamic Feminism in Empowering Women’s Entrepreneurship in Conflict Zones: Evidence from Afghanistan, Iraq and Palestine," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 178(1), pages 39-55, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:178:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1007_s10551-021-04818-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-021-04818-z
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    Cited by:

    1. Hayfaa A. Tlaiss & Maura McAdam, 2023. "Muslim feminists and entrepreneurship at times and in contexts of crises," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(5), pages 1759-1784, September.
    2. Mahmoud Abubaker & Mousa Luobbad & Ismael Qasem & Chris Adam-Bagley, 2022. "Work–Life-Balance Policies for Women and Men in an Islamic Culture: A Culture-Centred and Religious Research Perspective," Businesses, MDPI, vol. 2(3), pages 1-20, August.

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