Research

The research conducted by this chair covers the cultural history of Islam (10th–20th centuries) and focuses on the history of knowledge and materiality. In particular, it addresses research questions relating to formation of identity, religion, heritage and aesthetics against the backdrop of changing historical contexts.

Research and teaching at the Chair of Gender Studies and Islamic Studies covers themes in the modern and contemporary cultural and social history of the MENA-region (Middle East and North Africa), uniting a theory-driven approach to question formulation with a philologically grounded treatment of original-language sources (Arabic, Turkish).

Teaching activities of the Chair in Islamic Studies focus on the following topics: Religion and politics, state and nation building, political cultures, Islamic law and social change, intellectual encounters between the Middle East/North Africa and Europe, gender and sexuality, reform movements and protest.

Individual research interests within the team working at the chair coalesce around three thematic foci, which also facilitate networking and collaboration within Islamic/Area Studies and Gender Studies more widely. The focus points are “Religion and Politics”, “Gender-Culture-Difference” and “(Re)constructing Sex”. A fourth field of research, “Cultures of Knowledge”, that has more recently emerged, cuts across the different thematic foci.

Research Projects at the Chair of Gender Studies and Islamic Studies, Prof. Dr. Bettina Dennerlein

Further information about the research at the Chair of Gender Studies and Islamic Studies:
https://www.aoi.uzh.ch/en/genderstudies/forschung/researchprofil.html