An Nisa'a

FOCUS

An Nisa’a embraces an interdisciplinary approach by deliberately weaving together insights from religion, law, education, psychology, sociology, anthropology, political science, and cultural studies. Through this bridge‑building, the journal uncovers the multifaceted ways in which gender norms and childhood experiences are shaped by overlapping social, legal, and theological structures. For example, an article might combine anthropological fieldwork on traditional coming‑of‑age rituals with a legal analysis of guardianship laws to reveal how cultural practices and statutory frameworks jointly influence girls’ transition to adulthood in a given community.

Islamic Contextualization
At the core of An Nisa’a’s mission is the contextualization of Gender and Child Studies within Islamic epistemologies. Submissions are expected to ground their arguments in close readings of Qur’anic verses, Hadith collections, and classical fiqh treatises, while simultaneously engaging with modern ethical debates and human‑rights discourse. By doing so, the journal highlights how scriptural interpretation and juristic opinion can inform—and be informed by—contemporary policy questions, such as reproductive rights, digital privacy for minors, or equitable access to religious education.

Empowerment and Advocacy
Beyond theoretical critique, An Nisa’a prioritizes research that translates into tangible benefits for women and children. Each article should articulate clear pathways for policy reform, pedagogical innovation, or grassroots initiatives. Whether it’s evaluating the outcomes of a school‑based gender‑sensitivity workshop, drafting model legislation to safeguard child refugees, or co‑creating community curricula with young female leaders, authors demonstrate how scholarship can catalyze real‑world change and amplify the agency of those most affected.

Methodological Diversity
Recognizing that no single method can capture the full complexity of gender and childhood, An Nisa’a welcomes qualitative, quantitative, and mixed‑method designs alike. Qualitative case studies and participatory action research are encouraged to surface insider perspectives—especially of marginalized groups—while large‑scale surveys and statistical modeling offer insights into broader social patterns. Mixed‑method papers that triangulate focus-group findings with demographic data are particularly valued for their depth and rigor, ensuring that the voices of women and children remain at the center of analysis.

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SCOPE

Submissions in this cluster interrogate how religious doctrine and practice construct, constrain, or empower gendered identities and childhood formations. Topics include feminist hermeneutics of Qur’anic verses on family law, explorations of children’s devotional practices in Sufi orders, and comparative analyses of rites of passage across Abrahamic faiths. Authors might, for instance, contrast Islamic schooling in Indonesia with Christian catechism in East Africa to draw out universal and particular dimensions of youth spiritual formation.

Law & Policy
This area examines the interplay between Shariah, civil codes, and international legal instruments in defining women’s and children’s rights. Papers may assess the implementation of CEDAW and the Convention on the Rights of the Child within Muslim‑majority states, critique the legal status of female guardianship under various madhhabs, or propose frameworks for harmonizing customary dispute‑resolution with national child‑protection statutes. Empirical studies might track court cases on custody disputes to identify gaps between legal theory and judicial practice.

Education & Pedagogy
Articles here focus on designing and evaluating learning environments that foster gender equity and child development. Research topics include curriculum audits in madrasa networks to ensure inclusive representation of female scholars; longitudinal studies of gendered peer interactions in early childhood classrooms; and professional‑development modules that train religious educators to recognize and counteract gender bias. Innovative pedagogical experiments—such as co‑teaching models pairing male and female instructors—are also featured.

Psychology & Mental Health
Contributions in this field explore how faith, culture, and social expectations intersect in shaping the psychological well‑being of Muslim girls and boys. Studies might measure the impact of identity salience on self‑esteem among hijab‑wearing adolescents, evaluate trauma‑informed counseling approaches for child survivors of sectarian violence, or pilot mindfulness interventions rooted in Islamic contemplative practices. Clinical case reports are welcome where they offer insights transferrable across contexts.

Sociology & Anthropology
This theme investigates family systems, social rituals, and community networks that influence gender roles and childhood socialization. Potential topics include ethnographies of multigenerational households navigating modernity; analyses of child‑bride practices through gender and power lenses; and participant‑observation accounts of feminist collectives organizing for girls’ education. Comparative papers might examine how urbanization alters traditional play traditions and gendered leisure activities among children.

Political Science & Governance
Work in this domain scrutinizes women’s and children’s participation in formal and informal political processes. Submissions might analyze female candidacies in local shura councils, map the growth of youth‑led advocacy groups campaigning for child‑friendly public spaces, or model how Islamist versus secular parties differ in their policy platforms on maternal health. Policy‑evaluation articles that trace the implementation of child‑protection policies at municipal levels are especially encouraged.

Culture & Media
Research under this heading addresses representations and engagements of women and children in mass media, digital platforms, and artistic expressions. Topics may include content analyses of Islamic children’s television programs, ethnographic studies of young women’s use of Instagram for religious self‑expression, or critical readings of gendered iconography in contemporary Islamic art. Articles that investigate how memes, TikTok challenges, or online storytelling shape youths’ understandings of piety and agency will also find a home in An Nisa’a.