Muslim women, law and the challenges of securing a 'complete' divorce: the Australian experience

Abstract

Muslim women face numerous challenges when seeking what I term a 'complete' divorce under both Australian and Muslim family laws, largely due to restrictive interpretations of classical Islamic laws, patriarchal community processes and family expectations.My findings show, however, that some Muslim women in Australia are able to overcome these challenges if they have access to alternative avenues of religious divorce, supportive networks and awareness of their entitlements under Australian laws.The divorced Muslim women participants in my study demonstrate resilience in using various avenues and strategies to finalise their divorces, and show flexibility in their understanding of the practical application of Muslim family laws in their determination to obtain a 'complete' divorce.