The “Good Girl” Wound: From Pleasing to Presence

Description:

The “Good Girl” Wound: From Pleasing to Presence is a reflective and integrative short course designed for Muslim women seeking a deeper, more grounded understanding of themselves through an Islamic lens. Many women are socialized to equate righteousness with compliance, self-silencing, and emotional overextension, patterns that are often cultural rather than rooted in the Quran and Sunnah. This course examines how these dynamics develop, including the influence of family systems, broader socialization, and historical forces such as colonization and orientalist narratives, and how they can lead to disconnection from one’s voice, needs, and sense of presence.

Drawing from Quranic guidance, prophetic tradition, and the lives of women in early Islam, alongside insights from contemporary psychology and female development, this course offers a framework for reclaiming a balanced and dignified sense of self. Students will learn to distinguish between cultural expectations and Islamic teachings, recognize patterns of people-pleasing and self-erasure, and cultivate greater presence, clarity, and agency in their lives. By the end of the course, participants will be equipped with both conceptual understanding and practical tools to embody a form of righteousness that is aligned with spiritual integrity, psychological health, and lived authenticity.

Learning Objectives:

1. Differentiate between Islamic teachings and cultural messaging related to womanhood, obedience, and relational roles.
2. Identify and critically reflect on patterns of people-pleasing, self-silencing, and over-accommodation in their own lives.
3. Apply Quranic guidance, Prophetic examples, and principles from female development and relational psychology to cultivate presence, healthy boundaries, and values-aligned decision-making.

Requirements:

• Students should be women above the age of 17.
• Access to internet with an internet speed of at least 2 Mbps is recommended for best performance.
• Headphones, camera and microphone may be required for in-class participation.
• To access the live class and recordings, students will need a computer, smartphone, or tablet/iPad with the Zoom app.

Registration:

Registration fee (non-refundable, non-transferable):

• $75.00 (not including the cost of the course materials).
• Access to course, recordings and resources ends August 31, 2026.
• Please read the Registration Fees & Policies before enrolling

Contact: For inquiries, contact registration@rabata.org