Fatima Mernissi

A Moroccan sociologist and feminist scholar who redefined gender studies through intersectional analysis of Islamic societies.

Fatima Mernissi (1940–2015) was a groundbreaking Moroccan sociologist whose work challenged patriarchal norms in Islamic societies. Born in Fez, she became Morocco's first female university professor and authored over 20 books translating Islamic texts through feminist lenses. Her 1987 seminal work 《The Veil and the Male Elite》 exposed gender power dynamics in early Islamic history, influencing global feminist discourse.

Mernissi pioneered the Women's Studies Program at Rabat's Institute of Social Sciences in 1980, creating the first academic platform for Moroccan women's issues. She co-founded the Moroccan Association for Women's Rights (1983) and advised UNICEF on gender policies across Muslim-majority countries. Her 1991 book 《Beyond the Veil》 became a staple in Middle Eastern studies curricula worldwide.

Her interdisciplinary approach combined sociology, anthropology, and Islamic jurisprudence. The Fatima Mernissi Foundation continues promoting women's leadership in North Africa. Her critiques of gender apartheid in 《The Silent Prince》 (2006) remain controversial yet influential. Academic resources include the Mernissi Research Center in Paris.

Though no feature films exist about her life, her ideas appear in documentaries like 《Voices of the Veil》 (2010). Her legacy endures through the Fatima Mernissi Award for Gender Studies, awarded annually since 2016.