Perception of Women's Religious Status by Senegalese Adolescents

Abstract

The Senegalese society is one in which early Islamization has profoundly shaped the mentality of people. The role of women—essential in the traditional society—has also been altered in the process. This paper describes an assessment of the status of Senegalese women in contemporary Senegal as perceived by adolescents, who are equally at a cultural-cross roads of non-islamic traditions, early and intensive islamization, and Western education. Despite a timid rejection of women's inferiority (mostly by women) Islam remains a man's religion.