MADISON - Veiled subordinates or international activists? Both? Or something else entirely? A University of Wisconsin-Madison colloquium exploring "Women, Islam and Transnational Feminism" will look at ways in which women in Islamic countries have contributed to and benefited from feminist dialog. Discussions also will consider the effect of tensions within international coalitions, and how those debates have influenced which strategies have been adopted and which issues are addressed.

All sessions are free and open to the public. They all will take place in the Pyle Center, 702 Langdon St.

Scholars specializing in religious studies, anthropology, area and women's studies, law and more will take part in the colloquium's discussions on Friday, March 5:

• "Between Secular Feminism and Islamic Feminism," Margot Badran, Northwestern University, 9 a.m.

• "Ambivalent Politics: Sudanese Women and the Islamist Project," Sondra Hale, University of California-Los Angeles, 10:30 a.m.

• "Islamic Feminism and 'The Spectacle of the Other Woman,'" Minoo Moallem, San Francisco State University, 1 p.m.

• "Globalizing the Local: Transnational Feminism and Afghan Women's Right," Valentine M. Moghadam, Illinois State University, 2:30 p.m.

• "International Solidarity Strategies and Women's Rights Under Sharia Law in Nigeria," Ayesha Imam, Women's Human Rights in Nigeria and Women Living Under Muslim Laws, 4 p.m.

The colloquium is organized by the UW-Madison Women's Studies Research Center, and the Women and Citizenship Research Circle, with support from the UW-Madison International Institute; and the African Studies, Middle Eastern Studies and Religious Studies programs. For more information, contact Laura Pollick, (608) 263-2053 or wsrc@uwmadmail.wisc.edu.