DIGITAL MEDIA AND MUSLIM WOMEN: RECLAIMING EMPOWERMENT THROUGH ONLINE ISLAMIC DISCOURSE

Abstract

In the digital age, Muslim women have increasingly turned to online platforms to engage with Islamic knowledge, challenge patriarchal interpretations, and reclaim religious narratives. This article explores how digital media is facilitating empowerment for Muslim women by providing accessible avenues for learning, expression, and community building. Through the analysis of social media, YouTube channels, blogs, and online forums, the study examines how Muslim women are reshaping traditional discourses on gender and Islam. The research adopts a qualitative methodology, using content analysis and semi-structured interviews with Muslim female influencers and scholars from diverse cultural backgrounds. Findings reveal that digital platforms serve as transformative spaces where religious identity and feminist consciousness intersect. The article highlights both the potentials and limitations of online Islamic discourse in resisting hegemonic interpretations and promoting agency among Muslim women. It contributes to scholarly debates on gender, religion, and technology by foregrounding the voices of Muslim women in digital religious spaces.