In feminist studies, accounts of masculinity have often been governed by a critique of hostile sexism, characterized by an egotistical and oppressive male domination model. This chapter draws attention to a much-neglected, yet equally significant account of masculinity. It affirms that the masculinist protection model or, as conceptualized in this study, paternalistic masculinity is needed to gain a nuanced understanding of modern forms of feminine bodily discipline. As far as Muslim women are concerned, paternalism occurs within Islamic communities that restrict women to an infantilized role, just as in secular Western nations that impose excessive control over national identities and public spaces. This study interrogates conservative Islamist paternalism with a specific focus on the debate surrounding Türkiye’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention and addresses laicist republican paternalism by focusing on France’s headscarf ban. In challenging paternalistic masculinity, Islamic feminism, which initiates a self-reflexive hermeneutics of the Qur’anic text defending gender equality, and multiculturalist feminism, which supports culturally variable forms of autonomy, are utilized. By restating paternalism as a theoretical concept in women’s and gender studies, this chapter contributes to unveiling the often-hidden hegemonic practices and assumptions of narratives asserting their benevolent protection and emancipation of Muslim women.