Megan Wang ’20, Professor Kirsten Wesselhoeft

This summer, I had the opportunity of working with Professor Wesselhoeft on her project called Muslims of the Present. While mainstream scholarship on Islam in France often is framed in terms of secularism, French identity, and logics of integration, Professor Wesselhoeft’s research innovatively focuses on the robust cultures of social critique and discord within the French Muslim community.

My research consisted of exploring the wide range of French social discourse on Islam. I analyzed a range of primary source materials like speeches from prominent leaders within the Muslim community in France, organizational mission statements, news articles about controversies surrounding women’s covering, as well as scholarly work from both American and French academics. I also transcribed French from audio recordings and important conferences that touched upon relevant issues.

In addition to researching Muslim communities in France, I helped Professor Wesselhoeft with educational materials for two of her courses next fall. For an Introductory Religion course, I developed a syllabus unit on Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism. Together, we interrogated pedagogical questions like why ideologies of bias should be studied in the first place. Similarly, for an Introductory Women’s Studies course, I created a website to showcase my French to English translations of Maya-Ines Touam’s photography series surrounding Muslim women’s dress. It is my hope that from these translations, students grasp the nuance the debate surrounding muslim women’s dress beyond the concepts of choice and scrutiny.

Throughout this project, I was exposed to a wealth of new information about Islam in France as well as the nuance religion carries in relation to public and private life, assimilationist rhetoric, gender dynamics, and politics overall. I am grateful to have been able to work closely with Professor Wesselhoeft, hone my research and critical thinking abilities, as well as utilize my French language skills.