analyse the attainability of the recommendations on breastfeeding for two years by Muslim mothers based on the teaching of the Holy Quran.

Introduction

This thesis explores the tension between a rapid increase in Qatari mothers entering the labour market and the specific historic, cultural and religious expectations upon mothers with regards to breastfeeding, creating challenges for mothers, employers as well as policy makers. In the previous chapter, it has been established that indeed job demands, and policies profoundly undermine the ability of mothers who choose to breastfeed their infants beyond the first few months after birth. Examining the experiences of mothers in the Qatari workplace has become an important issue of late since legislations put in place in the state continues to increase the participation of women in all sectors of the economy. Conversely, the current modern workplace settings and policies does not recognise appropriately the other role of women when became a mother and denies the dependencies of their children. The exercising of employment rights, exposes Qatari mothers to the corporate world where existing requirements and policies compel them to focus less on some of their traditional and religious duties as mothers such as breastfeeding for 2 years as Islamic teachings require them.

This chapter outlines the theoretical framework of Islamic feminism to help understand how breastfeeding Muslim mothers have different challenges in balancing breastfeeding and their professional demands. The study will also employ the general understanding of feminism based on feminist theories to explore the challenges experienced by Qatari mothers returning to work after giving birth. The theoretical framework also aims to explore the understanding and application and the challenges of Islamic feminists and their contribution to championing the professional rights of Islamic women in the workplace.

This chapter will draw my position on how the concepts of feminism in the theoretical framework affect the Qatari women in the workplace. Additionally, the chapter will summarise the Islamic perspective on feminism. The study’s analytical framework will analyse the attainability of the recommendations on breastfeeding for two years by Muslim mothers based on the teaching of the Holy Quran. Different research works focusing on understanding employment and breastfeeding experiences and challenges by mothers at workplaces shall be examined.