Yaqeen Podcast The Healthy Way to Think About Feminism | Real Talk ft. Tesneem Alkiek
Jan 8, 2026
Tesneem Alkiek, a Muslim scholar and public speaker, dives into the complexities of feminism and its relationship with Islamic thought. She adeptly explains why the binary question of being a feminist oversimplifies the conversation. Tesneem highlights the emotional and social costs of a gender-antagonistic worldview while advocating for men and women to be allies. Sharing her personal journey, she stresses the importance of supportive networks and proposes sister-run spaces as solutions for community engagement, all while affirming her nuanced stance on feminist goals.
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Define Feminism Before Judging It
- 'Feminism' means many things, so blanket judgments are unhelpful.
- Tesneem Alkiek argues we must examine specific premises rather than use a single label.
Gender Antagonism Undermines Solutions
- Gender-antagonistic views that see men as perpetual oppressors harm solutions.
- Tesneem says that seeing permanent oppression breeds withdrawal, anger, and polarization.
Approach Issues As Allies
- Shift mindset from adversarial to allied and work with men as partners for shared goals.
- Tesneem recommends approaching problems believing men and women are on the same team.