Women Are Becoming More Involved in U.S. Mosques

Women’s involvement in mosques has been steadily increasing in the United States. According to a study by Pew Research Center, about nine-in-ten U.S. mosques (88%) allow women on their board of trustees (or a similar administrative body), and 61% say that women have served on the board at some point in the last five years. By comparison, a decade ago about three-quarters of mosques (77%) allowed women to serve on their board of directors, and only about half (51%) said women had served on the board in the past five years¹.

In 2011, women represented more than a quarter of attendees at just 14% of U.S. mosques, a share that rose to 21% of mosques by 2020. Despite the increase, men continue to account for the vast majority of attendees at Friday prayer services at most U.S. mosques.

Reasons for Increasing Involvement

The reasons behind the increase in women’s involvement in mosques are varied. Some women are drawn to the sense of community and support that mosques offer, while others are motivated by a desire to learn more about their faith and to become more active in their religious communities. Many women are also seeking to challenge traditional gender roles and take on leadership positions within their mosques.

How Can Mosques Become More Inclusive

First, let us confess that many mosques have not been welcoming to women. The women’s space in a lot of mosques is often dirty, with narrow balconies which in most cases are inaccessible. The mosques need to build women-friendly spaces inside their premises so that they feel welcomed in the community and can participate in masjid activities to the fullest extent possible.

While constructing women-friendly spaces, we also need to think about child-friendly areas for similar reasons.

Challenges To the Status Quo

However, despite the recent increase in the number of women participating in masjid activities in America, women still face challenges in mosques. Some mosques have separate entrances and prayer areas for men and women, which can make it difficult for women to participate fully in mosque activities. Women may also face discrimination and harassment from male congregants, and some mosques have been slow to embrace women’s leadership.

Despite these challenges, women are making progress in U.S. mosques. More and more women are serving on mosque boards and taking on leadership roles, and many mosques are working to create more inclusive environments for women. As women continue to become more involved in mosques, they are helping to shape the future of American Islam.