Sammendrag
For decades, many Muslim women have been confronted with a choice between the modern principles of liberation and freedom and religious traditions. Is being a Muslim incompatible with pursuing feminism? Or how to balance these two increasingly polarized trends? In Morocco, the so-called “Third Way” emerges, seeking to combine Islamic principles with secular feminism. Moroccan women present their religion as a source of inspiring their struggling for emancipation, rather than blocking gender equality. This thesis aims at evaluating the actual implementation of the Third Way in Morocco, based on hypothesizing that the Third Way is an instance of Grounded Theory. The criteria for the equality of Grounded Theory are employed to assess the application of the Third Way in Moroccan society, characterized by the local elements. Through analyzing the scholarly works, social critics, NGO reports, and interviews with Moroccan scholars and women’s associations, I conclude that this new strategy is a step forward in promoting women’s rights and challenging the religious and cultural traditions. Yet, it is constrained by the Moroccan socio-cultural and political conditions. Moreover, it seems of some possibilities of spreading the Third Way to other Muslim majority countries.