Ingrid Mattson: President of the Islamic Society of North America

I'll use this SFGate article to introduce us to Ingrid Mattson...WOMAN LEADS A WAVE OF CHANGE FOR U.S. MUSLIMS written by Matthai Chakko Kuruvila, Chronicle Religion Writer
Some quotes from the article, that I think pass on the gist (all emphasis mine)---

A former Catholic, Canadian-born woman who is a widely respected scholar is arguably the most influential Muslim in America.
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http://www.friends-of-tibet.org.nz/news/july_2006_update_11.htmIngrid Mattson, the recently elected president of the 43-year-old Islamic Society of North America, is the first convert, first non-immigrant and first woman to lead the largest Muslim umbrella organization on the continent. Her rise to prominence comes as more women and native-born Muslims are defining the faith, making Islam more of an American religion.
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The soft-spoken Mattson is not afraid to challenge long-held assumptions among believers. She wears a head scarf and loose clothes, and she is a forceful advocate for women's rights.
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Mattson had never heard of a Muslim before going to Paris. But within a year, she became one. She believes her Christian upbringing -- and a sister who converted to Judaism -- frees her from inter-religious barriers others might have. She thinks her perspective will allow her to better mediate between a minority faith and Christianity in the United States.
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After college, in 1987, Mattson volunteered in a refugee camp in Pakistan. There, she met and married her husband, Aamer Atek, an Egyptian engineer and fellow volunteer.

And then this kicker...

"If God had told anyone to bow to anyone but him, then he would tell women to bow to their husbands," Muhammad reportedly said, according to one hadith, a religiously sanctioned compilation of the sayings and deeds of Islam's revered prophet.

Several students disagreed with Mattson's questioning of the verse. They said she was introducing subjectivity into centuries of tradition that had validated the quote.

But Mattson calmly gave them criteria to weigh a hadith's authenticity -- whether it is congruent with the Quran, congruent with Muhammad's other sayings and logically a part of Islamic teaching.

Mattson said the quote didn't pass muster with the Quran's call for gender equality, or Muhammad's body of teachings. Questioning had nothing to do with subjectivity, she said. In fact, Islamic tradition required it.

Another article by the same reporter, same paper -- on a (then)upcoming conference on Bhuddist/Muslim relations featuring the Dalai Lama. This journalist's other writings for the religion page are generally not too awful -- considering the press' need for controversy and the atmosphere of liberal questioning of anything associated with the west...it's hard to imagine this topic being seriously dealt with today. Plenty of fluff.