Juliane Hammer

Juliane Hammer is an Associate Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her expertise spans Islamic Studies, American Muslim communities, and gender/sexuality analyses, with a focus on intersectionality, critical race theory, and feminist theology. A Kenan Rifai Scholar of Islamic Studies, she combines ethnographic and textual methods to explore contemporary Muslim practices and discourses.

• Education: Ph.D. in Islamic Studies from Humboldt University, Berlin (2001); M.A. in Islamic Studies with minors in Iranian Studies and Sociology (1996)

Hammer’s research investigates gender roles, domestic violence advocacy, and religious reform in Muslim contexts. Her 2019 book Peaceful Families examines anti-domestic violence efforts within American Muslim communities, linking local activism to transnational debates on gender and family. Current projects include Patriarchal Islam, analyzing public discourse on gender and sexuality, and articles on LGBTQI+ inclusion and racial-religious hierarchies.

Her recent publications emphasize gender justice, Qur’anic interpretation, and Sufism. Courses taught include topics on modern Muslim societies, American Islam, and methodological approaches to Islamic studies. She can be contacted at jhammer@email.unc.edu or 126 Carolina Hall, UNC Chapel Hill.