Susan Janet Carland (born 1980) is an Australian academic, author and television presenter best known for her ongoing media presence speaking on her academic speciality of
women in Islam
The experiences of Muslim women ( ''Muslimāt'', singular مسلمة ''Muslimah'') vary widely between and within different societies. At the same time, their adherence to Islam is a shared factor that affects their lives to a varying degree ...
Melbourne
Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...
's eastern suburbs. She attended public schools. She has stated that one of her favourite recreational pursuits in childhood was
ballet
Ballet () is a type of performance dance that originated during the Italian Renaissance in the fifteenth century and later developed into a concert dance form in France and Russia. It has since become a widespread and highly technical form of ...
, which she pursued from the age of seven.
Carland grew up as a Baptist and Uniting Church Christian―although she later became a Sunni Muslim―and enthusiastically speaks of her upbringing.
Carland completed a
Bachelor of Arts and Science Bachelor of Arts and Science(s) (BA&Sc, BASc, BAS, B.A.&Sc., B.A.Sc., or B.A.S.), sometimes also named Bachelor of Science and Arts (BSA), is an undergraduate bachelor's degree conferred by a small number of universities from countries including the ...
at Monash University. She also obtained a
doctorate
A doctorate (from Latin ''docere'', "to teach"), doctor's degree (from Latin ''doctor'', "teacher"), or doctoral degree is an academic degree awarded by universities and some other educational institutions, derived from the ancient formalism ''li ...
from Monash in 2015, which focused on Muslim women combating sexism from within the religion's own traditions and communities.
Career
Carland teaches gender studies, politics, and sociology at
Monash University
Monash University () is a public research university based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Named for prominent World War I general Sir John Monash, it was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. The university h ...
, with a special focus on Muslim women and Muslims in Australia.
She was a founding member and presenter of the SBS comedy talk show ''
Salam Cafe
''Salam Cafe'' is an Australian comedy talk show. Produced by RMITV, and originally airing on Channel 31 from 31 April 2005 under the title ''Ramadan TV'', the show began a revamped ten-week run on the SBS from 7 May 2008. Hosted by Ahmed Imam ...
''.
Carland is active in the
Islamic Council of Victoria
The Islamic Council of Victoria (ICV) an Australian Muslim organisation acting as the central representative body for the Muslim community and local Islamic organisations in Victoria, Australia.
In 2018, she hosted the Australian version of quiz show '' Child Genius'', on SBS.
In 2017, Carland wrote ''Fighting Hislam: women, faith and sexism''.
Personal life
Carland converted to Sunni Islam at the age of 19. She became increasingly interested in the religion and then converted in her first year of university.
Carland married
Waleed Aly
Waleed Aly (born 15 August 1978) is an Australian journalist, academic, and lawyer.
Aly is a lecturer in politics at Monash University working in their Global Terrorism Research Centre, and a co-host of Network Ten's news and current affairs ...
in 2002. They have 2 children and live in Melbourne.