Methodical research on the social and political conditions of American Muslim women is almost non-existent. There is little reliable information that would allow observers to draw an accurate portrait of the facts and perceptions of the involvement of women in communal and public life. However, the pool of Muslim women in the American public sphere is growing, as they are increasingly joining the ranks of upper middle-class professionals and community activists.

There are a few Muslim women leaders who have run for public office, such as Representative Yaphett El-Amin, a democ…