WOMEN AND AGENCY: (RE)EVALUATING COLLECTIVE IDENTITY THROUGH SHI'A RITUAL PERFORMANCE

Abstract

When it comes to exploring Ashura rituals of the Shi'a sect of Islam, many misconceptions seize the literature, focusing chiefly on the spiritual, pietistic, and soteriological aspects. As an embodiment of a culture of death and salvation is realized, restricted to breast-beating, self-flagellation, tomb visitations of martyrs, mourning processions, lamentation, and theatrical/poetical representations of the battle of Karbala, another side reveals a social and political revival through the reinforcement of social/religious events that unify, empower and reinforce the collective Shi'i identity. Hence, a shift has been noted moving from a traditional collective identity of shared sorrow, to collective social activism. My topic of research focuses on the gender-dynamic transformation that has occurred which accordingly revitalized and re-evaluated the role of women in society. I want to explore how pious Lebanese Shi'a women are finding agency and empowerment through their participation in Ashura commemoration in both the private and public sphere and how there came about a transformation of the marginalization of women visibility to their appearance. Additionally, as any other socially-connected rituals, the rituals of the mourning of Ashura helps the Shi’a from all parts of Lebanon to reconnect with one another as one community united together in the face of any challenge they encounter in their daily lives. My research will contribute to the literature by addressing two leading questions. Initially, I want to explore what the content of the rituals is that is actively being practiced by women in the mourning events. Accordingly, I intend to investigate how the active actors or participating women are attaining collective power which is elevating their empowerment and agency through their participation in the rituals.