At HEART, we are committed to deepening our understanding of the reproductive health and violence needs of Muslim communities, which is essential for creating effective and sustainable programs.

We conduct and gather  research through leading clinical studies, conducting literature reviews of the newest research and scholarship, and partnering with academics and professionals to explore specific research questions. This work allows us to: 

Enhance our own programming

Contribute to peer-reviewed literature

Make informed recommendations for policy and practice

How we do it:

We prioritize participatory research methods and are committed to fostering the next generation of scholars and practitioners by involving interns in significant roles within our projects. Our research team works diligently to increase knowledge production and access within Muslim communities, empowering them to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health. Additionally, we develop culturally sensitive guidance for practitioners and stakeholders to ensure appropriate and respectful responses to the unique needs of Muslim communities. Finally, we partner with feminist scholars and academics to deepen our understanding of the issues we work on and uplift and make accessible scholarship and research that Muslim communities may not have access to.  

Ultimately, we disseminate our research in a variety of ways to reach a wider audience, including, but not limited to: infographics, white papers, policy briefs, peer-reviewed journal articles, webinars, and visual reports. 

Who we partner with:

Universities & research institutions

Feminist scholar and academics at higher ed institutions

Community members

Gender-Based Violence Research (GBV)

• Who Experiences Sexual Violence in Muslim Communities?
• Who Experiences Sexual Violence in Muslim Communities: A Webinar?
• Case Study: Gender-based Violence as a Tool of War in Sudan
• No Perfect Victim: Who gets believed and unpacking wartime rape propaganda
• The Impact of Racialization on Muslim Survivors of Sexual Violence
• Removing roadblocks: Examining barriers to justice & healing to build more victim-centric services for muslim survivors of sexual assault
• Responding with RAHMA: Removing roadblocks for Muslim survivors of sexual violence
• “They Sit with the Discomfort, They Sit with the Pain Instead of Coming Forward”: Muslim Students’ Awareness, Attitudes, and Challenges Mobilizing Sexual Violence Education on Campus 
• Research Report: Creating Victim-Centric Spaces for Muslim Survivors of Sexual Assault on College Campuses

Reproductive Justice & Sex Education

• Real Talk: Sex Education for Muslim and Arab Women in Southeast Michigan
• The Sex Talk Book: A Muslim’s Guide to Healthy Sex & Relationships
• Sexual Health Knowledge and Practices of Muslim American Women
• A Review of the Psychosocial Factors that Contribute to Sexuality, Female Sexual Dysfunction, and Sexual Pain among Muslim Women
• Prevalence of Sexual Pain Among Cis-Gender Muslim American Women in North America