Islamic Women In America Brooks Summary

Islamic Women In America Brooks Summary
There are many political, religious, and cultural factors that shape the lives of Islamic women many
of them are completely different than factors in the lives of American women. Islam is one of the
world's fastest growing religions; however, Brooks argues that "Islam's holiest texts have been
misused to justify the repression of women, and how male pride and power have warped the original
message of this once liberating faith." The book also shows these factors have slowly been taking
away women's rights, rather than furthering them.
The specific topic of this book is the oppression of women. Its overall purpose is to understand the
women behind the veils and why the Muslim women take up the hijab. The purpose is also to show
how ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The major primary source she uses is the Koran that was transmitted by God through the prophet
Muhammad. Brooks also uses the story of Khomeini and the story of the queen as biographical and
historical accounts. An important biographical account is the one about Faezeh Hashemi and what
she did for the women's Olympics and sporting events.
Brooks uses the sources to bring the thesis together and to help get her point across about the
oppression of Islamic women and the pride and power of their male figures. An Islamic law states
that women are not to commit adultery, but their husband can have more than one wife. When
Brooks learned the story of Rehab and Mohamed and how Mohamed left Rehab for Fatima, it really
opened her eyes on how different the treatment of married women of the Islamic world.
She also learned how a woman was confined to the house unless escorted by a male figure, but a
man could go about what he does every day. As Brooks was trying to check into the hotel, the clerk
said she couldn't because she was not with a male figure and so she was kicked out of the hotel.
Brooks' tone was different at many points in the book. When she found out that she saw how the
women had to be covered up all of the time, I could sense a little rage in her voice. When she was
listening to the story of Rehab and Mohamed she had a
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Misconceptions Of Islam: Caravane Women In Islam
The fact that Muslims can't draw Muhammad or any religious being, whether it is an angel a prophet
or Allah, is due to the problem of misrepresentation and has nothing to do with worship. Muhammad
is considered to be the Seal of Prophet in Islam but he is only a messenger of Allah as it is clearly
stated in the Shahadah, one of Islam's five pillars. Muhammad was caravane rider who met many
different people throughout his life. It is unclear whether he believed in a particular god but he was
religious before his revelation from God at the age of 40 years old. Muhammad knew about many
religions, including Christianity and Judaism, and often went to caves surrounding Mecca to
meditate. Apart from his interactions with the angel Gabriel or Allah, we see that Muhammad was
only a simple human that had the duty to provide humans with Allah's message. He is respected in
Islam because of his virtue and of his military skills as Islam would never have expanded this fast
without his capabilities. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
If we look at countries like Saudi Arabia, we see that woman has limited rights. Indeed, they cannot
drive cars, they have to cover their hair and are very encouraged to cover their face. It is not
frowned upon for men to marry 4 wives and women are raised with the goal of marrying them.
Women are encouraged to stay at home instead of working and are even forbidden from practicing
certain professions as it is stated in an article from Spiegel: "Women still cannot be judges or
ambassadors. Only 15 percent of women are employed." Finally, a women is required by law to
marry her aggressor in rape cases. Since Saudi Arabia is considered the center of Islam, these laws
are thought to be a result from the Sharia law or Islam law. However, these laws are outdated and
cannot be applied in today's world. Thus, it is not the laws that should be blamed, but the institutions
that enforces them

Is Islam Oppressive To Women
Is Islam oppressive to women? This is the big question that scholars in religious and women's
studies are constantly asking. Religious and women's studies scholars are always looking at the
world's major religions and questioning how these religions treat women. Even on the personal
level, women who belong to a certain religious tradition have to evaluate about how they are treated
and if they are going to stay in the religion as in, try to reform it or leave the tradition. This is a
common struggle for women around the world. In some countries, Islam isn't entirely repressive to
women, but I think that Saudi Arabia is a major example of how Islam can be used to the extreme
oppression of women. In order to understand the position of women ... Show more content on
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Only men are allowed to practice polygamy since they are considered the head of the family and the
basic requirement for any polygamous relationship is that each wife must be treated equally
mentally, physically, and spiritually by their husband. Some argue that the mere act of having more
than one wife inherently makes it impossible for the women to be treated equally. Even though this
practice is allowed, it has lost much of its popularity because it requires that the man to be rich in
order to care for multiple wives and children. Recently women have been able to include a
prohibition of the man to have another wife in their prenuptial agreement (World Trade Press

Women In Christianity And Islam
Christianity and Islam both believe women are inferior to men. However, historically, women had
more rights in Islam than in Christianity. Both religions have similarities along with its differences
in how women were treated through the religion. Women had little to no rights by any means in both
religions, one a little harsher than the other. Christianity and Islam both believe women are inferior
to men. The reason for this is that many stories in the Christian Scripture as being less spiritual as
men. For example, Women are known to be crated in both Islam and Christianity from man and for
man. By this being said, in the book Genesis, Eve was the one who was deceived by the shake.
Islam like Christianity, also saw women as inferior. Women ... Show more content on
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Although women were still inferior to men, they did have a couple more rights. For example, during
the war time, schooling, and job opportunities increased for women. They were able to work for the
army, the government, along with other jobs. However this did not last long. Even though it did not
stay to be true, we can still say that women had more rights in Islam. This would not even be a
thought in Christianity. Many roles if not all were strictly only allowed to be filled by man. There
was not even a thought in anyone's mind that a women would be able to successfully complete a
role in the work force. The women was to stay at home, keep the house clean, do all the chores and
demands that were left for them, take care of the children if they had any, do sowing or stitching for
clothing and make sure a hot meal is ready and on the table for when the husband comes in from a
long day at

Women, Not Islam?
women, not Islam. The idea of a woman needing a male guardian to leave their home is one of the
more popularly discussed aspect of some societies that have a population that consists mostly of
Muslims, for example Saudi Arabia. This assumption stems from, "Men are protectors and
maintainers of women, because Allah has given one the more (strength) than the other and because
they support them from their means...(Qur'an 4:34). Another verse used to justify male guardianship
is " Oh, wives...abide in your houses and do not display yourselves as [was] the display of the
former times of ignorance. And establish prayer and give zakah and obey Allah and His Messenger.
Allah intends only to remove from you the impurity [of sin].." (Qur'an 33:32–33). ... Show more
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Nowhere in the Qur'an does it say Muslim women must wear a headscarf, only that modesty is
practiced. "There are two requirements, which come from the Qur'an and hadith..: First, a woman's
body should be covered such that only her face, hands, and feet are revealed. Secondly, the clothing
must be loose enough so that the shape of a woman's body is not visible." Other than those
specifications, it is completely the woman's choice in accordance with what feels modest or
immodest to her! Some people tend to project what their definition of modesty/immodesty is onto
other women, and think that their own definition should be the minimum or requirement for all
Muslim women. This is one example where women are not oppressed by patriarchy(unless they are
forced to wear more than meets the requirements of modesty and where she feels modest enough
without extra covering), in fact for some it is

Western Views of Women in Islam Essay
Before venturing into the ideals and movements of Islamic feminism, it is important to recognize
some of the biased views Westerners often take when it comes to women in Islam. Because of the
portrayal of women in the Arab world through pop–culture and the media, some Westerners may
believe that Islam creates a society in need of modernity. The concepts of religious government are
also foreign to the Western world. Feminists often focus on the practice of veiling women in Islamic
tradition as a law made to minimize the importance of women as citizens. It is important for us to
recognize where our biased views exist, and what sorts of root assumptions we make about women
in Islam.
The truth is, Islamic culture ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Many Muslim women desire Western feminists to accept women's right to choose instead of being
encouraged to follow a western model of liberation. Nationally known Islamic theologian Riffat
Hassan says: "Koranic law does give women many rights, to own property, to be independent
financially. They can keep their own names (when they marry). At the same time, what has
happened is a lot like Judaism and Christianity. The law has developed within a patriarchal
framework. If the Koran were properly implemented, there wouldn't be any discrimination against
women" (star trib, p. 1).
Much of the appeal of Islam is its structure. Islam, like Catholicism, gives a place and a role to
everyone, which in turn, gives a sense of security to each member. Many women find freedom in the
structured life of Islam. Some women view customs such as veiling, as a way to distinguish
themselves and their Islamic identity. Their lives are ordered by putting their spiritual lives first,
praying five times a day, and finding unity within their community. Many women look at the
Western world and are discouraged by the divorce rate, the number of workaholics, the increased
crime and child abuse. Often the structure and strict nature of the Arab world seems more appealing
than the loose and chaotic world of the west.
In the book "Modernist and Fundamentalist Debates in Islam: A Reader", chapter 14 is titled "The
rights of women".

Ethnography Of Women In Islam
The essay I wrote about was based on the experiences of Women in Islam which is consist of a
group of Muslim female students at city college of New York. The essay was mainly focused on
their Muslim identities and the negative effects that comes with being a Muslim in America. The
main reason why I decided to study this group of students and use them as my ethnography topic
was because I am part of the group and I can relate with what they are going through for the mere
fact of being a Muslim. This subculture is something I am very passionate about, because it gives
me a sense of belonging and inclusion whenever I feel like the world is against my identity as a
Muslim woman. In other words, I do not have to worry about being judge or

The Importance Of Gender Equality
Ever since the beginning of time, women have been fighting endlessly to be treated equally and
fairly, whether it's in their personal life, their business careers, or their social encounters. From the
day in which women are born, they are raised and treated differently compared to men. Girls are
expected to be sensitive and sweet, meanwhile boys are usually more tough, and expected to mature
a bit faster. Girls are protected more in comparison to boys and as they grow, the way society treats
each gender stands out more. Women are limited to certain professions because they are not men,
and in situations where they can actually work the same jobs, they are paid much less. Throughout
time, women all over the world continue to be sexualized and judged based on their personal
opinions. While many nations have slowly begun to embrace women's equal rights, Islam continues
to oppress women by limiting their self–expression, using their religious misconceptions to abuse
and control them as a whole, and constantly maintaining old cultural traditions that prevent freedom
and equality for women.
As formerly stated, women's rights across the world are slowly increasing while they remain the
same or even worse in some parts of the world. In America, women can vote, be a part of Congress,
choose whatever career they want to study, live wherever they please, marry whoever they love, and
much more. In Europe, gender equality is one of the core values in their initial founding treaties, and

Malala Women's Rights
Malala is probably the most famous girl activist who is in favor of girls education, but she's not the
only one that's changing the way the world views girls education and women's rights. These other
activists come from all over the world and they are passionate about making the way women and
girls are treated, better. They have come over the barriers that are between them, such as religion
and culture and haven't stopped until they reached their goals. Women's rights and girls education
are issues that affect many women and girls around the world. We need to take an initiative and help
these people who are in need of a voice against these injustices. Here are a few.
Women's Rights Activists
Women's rights is a big problem ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In 2015, she showed the United States an initiative called " Let Girls Learn", which supports girls in
different communities by getting education all around the globe. In the project there will be 7,000
Peace Corp ( organization that helps people outside the US ) to help support the new community
projects that "help girls go to school and help them stay in school" as stated in the article " 15
women leading the way for girls education" by GPE Secretariat on the website for Global
Partnership for Education. "Girls are our change makers –– our future doctors, teachers, and
entrepreneurs" Michelle Obama states at the launch of this program in the White House. " They're
our dreamers and our visionaries who could change the world as we know it". In a post on Twitter,
she says " I want to use my time and platform as First Lady and beyond to make a real impact",
which is attached to a picture of the board that has her message " 62 million girls around the world
are not in school. The " Let Girls Learn" initiative will help break down barriers to girls education so
they can build healthier families, stronger communities, and a brighter future". The way Michelle
Obama supports this cause truly is inspiring and we truly do know that a change is coming and it's
coming

Compare And Contrast Mary Wollstonecraft And Leila Ahmed
Mary Wollstonecraft and Leila Ahmed In Europe or in Muslim countries, the most progressive
writers, philosophers and intellectuals were always a source of societal development. Their
revolutionary thoughts were new and often could not be accepted by their audience immediately.
However, usually next generations did not started to understand and accept them, but even applied
and based the newest and most progressive theories on them. Mary Wollstonecraft and Leila Ahmed
are two examples that illustrate this viewpoint on practice. One representing the eighteenth–century
literature of the Great Britain and the other coming from last–century Arab world, both women
struggled for women's rights and attempted to portray the life seen through female eyes, each within
her own historical and social context. The present paper aims at comparing and contrasting
Wollstonecraft and Ahmed in terms of their intellectual engagement, societal and historical input, as
well as their most important aspects. Having two similar philosophies developed, these women
symbolize progressivism, courage and modern approach which challenges current stereotypes in the
societies the authors belonged to. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Her education and her relationships with women (especially with such ones as Jane Arden and
Frances Blood) have shaped her early life and later values and beliefs (Jacobs, 2001). Wollstonecraft
was much concerned with female position in society and educational issues for women. She
struggled for the rights of women to study and to freely choose their activity and their position in a
relationship. One of her profound achievements besides her writings was the fact that she has
opened a school near London to attempt fulfilling her ideas on practice. Unfortunately, the school
went bankrupt in a year from its

The Four Misconceptions Of Women
The fourth misconception that most people have about women in Islam and sharia law is the concept
of divorce. In the same article that was mentioned in the previous paragraph, "Women's rights in
Islam," Nicolau states, "Being left at the mercy of man who can disavow her (the wife) at his free
will, without being obliged to show any reasons determining him to do so, the Moslem woman is
nothing else but a simple piece of patrimony for her husband" (Women's rights in Islam). In other
words, Nicolau believes that Muslim women are humiliated and treated as objects by their husbands
because husbands can initiate divorce whenever they wish to do so. Nevertheless, this is a common
misconception that most people have, which is that only men could divorce their spouse, where in
reality they both could. In fact, there are mostly five primary conditions for a divorce to be issued in
Islam. The first condition is by mutual consent, which is when both spouses agree to the divorce.
The second condition is if a wife made it conditional at the day of the Aqd (the marital contract),
that she also want to be able to initiate divorce. The third condition is divorce Khula, which is when
a wife wants a divorce for no obvious reason, then she would have to return the dowry that the
husband gave her, and in return, he gives her the divorce paper. The fourth condition is the divorce
for a valid reason, which is if a wife has a valid reason such as any type of abuse done toward her by
the husband, or

What Is The Media's View On Those Who Wear The Hijab?
Hijab. While this may seem like such a simple word over the course of history it has become such a
complex issue for not only the Near East but western civilization as well. While the prevailing idea
in the media is the idea of the Hijab as oppressive and a symbol of 'otherness' separating Muslim
women who wear it from other woman of other cultures or specific countries. This idea is false with
the hijab being more of a symbol of freedom for woman who choose to wear it and in no way
separates them from the 'mainstream' culture and/or country that they reside in. This essay will
describe the media's view on those who wear the hijab while also exploring the history of this piece
of fabric, from its Pre–Islamic roots to the more modern aspect

Snow By Orhan Pamuk : Final Paper
Snow Orphan Pamuk – Final Paper
Snow by Orhan Pamuk is a story set in the volatility of a small Turkish town called Kars, which is
just off the Turkish border. The city of Kars is currently in a battle between tradition and change and
religion and modern atheist, all set in the beautiful, but sometimes treacherous beauty of a border
city during a winter snowstorm. Ka is an exiled poet, who has returned to Turkey because of the
death of his mother. Ka travels to the northern city of Kars to visit someone he knew in college and
admired from afar Ipek.
He uses the excuse of being a journalist sent to the city to write about the recent suicides of young
girls and the upcoming mayoral election. While in Kars, Ka is immediately caught up in the events
of the town, and has the opportunity to meet with governing bodies and families of the suicide
victims. This paper will explore the idea of Islamic feminism in the context of Kars and the
relationship between state authority, disobedience, and individual freedom.
In Snow, Ka, the protagonist identifies the suicide girls and the ones who are against taking off their
hijabs as "Islamic Feminists, which means, Islamic feminists ground their arguments in Islam and its
teachings, seek the full equality of women and men in the personal and public sphere, and can
include non–Muslims in the discourse and debate.
In Snow, the headscarves controversy overshadowed turkey and the modernized state, the secularist
elites implement secularism by

Muslim Women: Treated With Oppression Or Fairness?. When
Muslim Women: Treated With Oppression or Fairness?
When I mention Islam, I am discussing its way of life, a concept that encompasses every aspect of
one's life from beginning to end. Islam, the newest and second largest faith, influences many parts of
this earth as we discussed in class. Originating in the Arabian Desert, the religion is based on one
book, The Holy Quran, the final word of Allah. Prophet Muhammed, in Islam, was the last
messenger of God. His life is one that Muslims should follow, which is called the Sunnah. The Holy
Quran, outlines every Muslim s life. This outline, provides guidance from whom to marry to how to
mourn a loved one's death. The Holy Quran dictates a religion based on unsurpassed knowledge,
fairness, and ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The western influenced media portrays women's dress to be outdated and oppressive. Many of us
have seen movies, documentaries, etcetera, in which Muslim women are portrayed as wearing black
gowns to the ground, full facial, excluding eyes, head and hand covering. This practice is more a
cultural ritual than religious act. The Holy Quran explains that women must dress modestly, "And
tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their
private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.) and not to show off their adornment except only that
which is apparent (like palms of hands or one eye or both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer
dress like veil, gloves, head–cover, apron, etc.), and to draw their veils all over Juyubihinna (i.e.
their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms, etc.) and not to reveal their adornment except to their
husbands, their fathers, their husband 's fathers, their sons, their husband 's sons, their brothers or
their brother 's sons, or their sister 's sons, or their (Muslim) women (i.e. their sisters in Islam), or
the (female) slaves whom their right hands possess, or old male servants who lack vigor, or small
children who have no sense of the shame of sex. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal
what they hide of their adornment. And all of you beg Allah to forgive you all, O believers, that you
may be successful" (24:31). This passage prescribes clearly why women wear the appointed
coverings. It's

The Virgin Mary Was Vital To The Structure, Spread, And
The Virgin Mary was vital to the structure, spread, and development of early and medieval
Christianity. She represents the Queen of Heaven and the Throne of Wisdom but also the link
between all humans to God. She is not considered a deity, but she is responsible for bringing God to
humanity. Along with saints she is an important intercessory figure that people look up to. Her
compassion as a women and a human challenged the male–ruled system. She is seen as a symbol
and more than just a women, but a perfect and virtuous women, who was deemed the agent of the
incarnation of God through Jesus Christ. The Virgin Mary was resented by Jews, but those who
preached of her allowed the Virgin Mary to be seen as a women whose purpose is to nurture ...
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Her role has also been to connect with women and become their role model. What the Virgin Mary
did for women was allow them to devote their lives to Christianity in a world in which they are
deemed less powerful and when there is a social aspect of inequality present. The Virgin Mary was
an example of a strong, determined women who has the power to take action in a time period full of
injustice. Women during this time were attracted to the idea of a release from a patriarchal cultural.
Women lacked financial and economic autonomy and dependence on their husbands made it
difficult break out of their societal expectations. The Virgin Mary was able to empower women
everywhere, and because she is seen as a mobile figure, she can be called to help essentially anyone
who believes in her. Heroines were created from her influence causing even more of Christianity's
social ideals to spread as well as the importance of self–discipline and avoidance of indulgence.
Women's bright new image of themselves derailed the dominance of men and gave them courage to
live radical lives in order to spread their faith. Women like Marcella, Melania, and Egeria chose to
be transformed as they lived life on the edge of society. Women created their own social movement
which influenced other women to branch out from their household roles into preachers, prophets,
and patrons. Overall, the Virgin Mary had a huge impact which had a domino effect of the enormous
spread of Christianity.

The Role of Women in Islam
Lomonosov Moscow State University Business School
The Analysis of the Role of Women in Islamic Culture by ...
May 24, 2012
Abstract My paper is written in purpose to cover the issue of the role of women in Islamic culture.
My first part is devoted to the status of women according religious texts of Islam, Quran and Sunna.
The first factor that determines the role of Muslim women is spirituality. In this regard women are
equal to men; they ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Osman M.F. , a Ph.D. in Islamic law and institutional history from Princeton University, supports
this statement by stressing out that women are not seen as "a mere shadow or an extension of a man,
always following him"(1993, p.3). He believes that women are free as individuals and are
responsible for their faith and actions under the Islamic law. Hasan Abdul Ghaffar, a scholar of
Hadith and a member of the Islamic Ideological Council in Pakistan, takes the same stand and
concludes: There can thus be no doubt that in the Hereafter, men and women will both be judged,
each individual bearing the burden of its own acts, each soul will be punished for its transgressions
and each will be rewarded for its obedience to Allah (1996, p. 4). As Women's League points out
basing on the Quran, both males and females are supposed to play "the role of vicegerents" (1995,
"Role as Vigerents" section), praying to God and living up to his injunctions so that they can finally
get to the paradise:"Say: Behold, my prayer, and all my acts of worship, and my living and my dying
are for God alone" (Quran, 6:163). Some people may regard that the "vicegerency" of a woman
should mainly be performed through childbearing. Nevertheless, there is no division of the
"vicegerency" between sexes in the Quran, moreover, women should not be disregarded for being
infertile or deciding not to have children. As evidence, the prophet Muhammad had children only
from two of his wives, Khadija and

Essay about Muslim Women in the Entertainment Industry
Muslim Women in the Entertainment Industry
Imagine a world immersed in beauty, wealth, gloss, and fame. I may be generalizing, but lets just
say it's a world in which you are born with a streaming talent that most individuals could only dream
of. You constantly have hordes of spectators cheering your success and everyone wants to be your
friend. The greatest fear of most women seems to be being hideous or lacking capacity and you have
no idea what that feels like. Seems spectacular, doesn't it? If you are a female actress or singer in the
North American region then you probably know it is your cluster that I am referring to. Of course,
what I talk about are only the optimistic and positive aspects of working in the acting or music ...
Taking part in movies that portray love scenes or god forbid, kissing, is horrifying and according to
the extremists in Islam, the women who indulge in these acts are no better than trash. It is true that
religious zealots are not the only ones who speak out about women in the entertainment industry, but
their voice is heard louder than anyone else's in the Muslim world. Their voices are so loud in fact,
that there is now an undeclared set boundary that female singers and actresses are expected to
respect and obediently stay within in the Islamic society. Things such as incorporating sexual moves
in a dance or being l?? lyrics in an album or track, depicting a sexually charged character a show, or
even displaying skin while dancing or performing are all extremely looked down upon by the
Islamic community. Although I am not endorsing all of these things (too much skin can get a bit
uncomfortable to watch), I am suggesting that these females are too restricted within their own
career by being told how to act and behave.
The intention of Islam is not to purposely discriminate against actresses and female singers. In fact,
its intentions are pure and honorable. The origin of dressing purely and conservatively on television
and in music came from the act of wearing the hijab, or the headscarf. Intended to shield women
from the wandering eyes of the evil–intentioned men, the act of wearing the scarf was initiated for
the betterment

Muslim Women Essay
The American media has a tendency to portray Muslims in a negative light. Some pity Muslims
while others feel pure disdain for them. This statement made by Ann Coulter (2001) following the
September 11th terrorist attacks demonstrates the disdain for Muslims, "We should invade their
countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity" (as cited in Arab American National
Museum, 2011). While this particular statement was directed at all Muslims, there are also many
misconceptions directed solely at Muslim women. In this essay, I will discuss the issue of Muslim
women and some of the ways in which their reality contradicts the common media representations
of women in that area. The first common media representation of ... Show more content on
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A second common assumption of the Muslim women is that they are forced into marriage. While it
is true that arranged marriages do still take place in the Muslim world, the marriages are not forced
upon anyone (Ahmed, 1999). Before an arranged marriage takes place, parents and older relatives
discuss different possible matches, but the person, for whom they are searching a mate, is always
involved in the discussions (Ahmed, 1999). Then before the marriage can take place, both future
spouses must agree to the marriage in front of witnesses (Ahmed, 1999). A third common media
stereotype of Muslim women is that their sole purpose is to please their husbands. Geraldine Brooks
author of the book, Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women wrote that Muslim
"women are expected to sacrifice their comfort and freedom to service the requirements of male
sexuality; either to repress or stimulate the male sex urge (as cited in Arab American National
Museum, 2011). This stereotype is heightened by the fact that Islam allows polygamy. While Islam
does allow men to take four wives, it is only advised that they do so under extreme circumstances
(Ahmed, 1999). In fact, the Quran recommends that one wife is best because one who marries
multiple wives must treat all of them completely equal and that is a difficult task (Ahmed, 1999).
Muslim women like Muslim men play a part in the family, but their part goes way beyond simply
pleasing their

Analysis Of Shirin Neshat, An Iranian Visual Artist
Shirin Neshat is an Iranian visual artist, who is well–known for her works in films as well as
photography. After graduating from school, she moved to New York and married a Korean artist.
This picture is quite evocative and convoluted. It's a representational artwork. Its dimensions are 33
x 22.2 cm. (13 x 8.7 in.). It's interesting to me because the woman in the picture silently expresses a
lot. It is quite comprehensible. The image represents Islamic religion in which a woman stands up to
defend her religion and explain that her religion is transparent and that it is not as deficient as it is
deemed by other people, nonetheless, they are not given equal rights. Rather, their past efforts are
overlooked.
In this portrait, the artist has portrayed herself, wearing a black color dress that covers her
completely only leaving her face uncovered. Moreover, a poem in Persian language is stated on her
face, and a rifle is segregating her face into two components. The artist's eyes gaze intensely towards
the viewers from the both sides. She opted to portray herself as a muslim woman to shed light on her
religion and to explain the distinction amongst Islam and western culture. According to Syre, the
poem inscribed upon her face narrates the belief of many Iranian Muslim women in Islam. It is their
believe that as per Islam, all men and women are equal, and the Chador that covers the woman body
from head to feets, leaving her face naked prevents woman from becoming a sexual

Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving?
Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving? Anthropological Reflections on Cultural Relativism and
Its Others Author(s): Lila Abu–Lughod Reviewed work(s): Source: American Anthropologist, New
Series, Vol. 104, No. 3 (Sep., 2002), pp. 783–790 Published by: Blackwell Publishing on behalf of
the American Anthropological Association Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3567256 .
Accessed: 18/01/2012 15:55
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I want to point out the minefields–a metaphor that is sadly too apt for a country like Afghanistan,
with the world's highest number of mines per capita–of this obsession with the plight of Muslim
women. I hope to show some way through them using insights from anthropology,the
disciplinewhose charge has been to understand and manage cultural difference. At the same time, I
want to remain critical of anthropology's complicity in the reificationof culturaldifference.
CULTURAL EXPLANATIONS AND THEMOBILIZATION OFWOMEN It is easier to see why
one should be skeptical about the focus on the "Muslim woman" if one begins with the U.S.
AMERICANANTHROPOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION
COPYRIGHT? 2002,
784
American Anthropologist
* Vol. 104, No. 3 * September 2002 ism" in a way they were not in other conflicts?LauraBush's
radio address on November 17 reveals the political work such mobilization accomplishes. On the
one hand, her address collapsed important distinctions that should have been maintained. There was
a constant slippage between the Taliban and the terrorists, so that they became almost one word–a
kind of hyphenated monster identity: the Taliban–and–the–terrorists.Then there was the blurring of
the very separate causes in Afghanistan of women's continuing malnutrition, poverty, and ill health,
and

Islamic Women Vs Western Feminism Essay
Although Western feminism started in the 1900s, yet, it didn't reach the Islamic world until most
recently, a couple of hundred years later than the West. Despite the fact that both of the feminism
movements come from totally different back grounds, and they are affected by different history and
culture, still, both of them aimed for women's best interests. Muslim women were profoundly
feeling aggrieved by the discrimination they have against them. They stereotypical reputation about
them in the West, and their presentation in the Western media didn't help either. They started and
supported a new fight to regain themselves the equal status they were granted by Islam centuries
ago. Muslim women didn't like to be looked at as being backward and oppressed by men in a male–
dominant world. According to the feminist historian Margot Badran, "Islamic feminism is a feminist
discourse and practice articulated within an Islamic paradigm. Islamic feminism, which derives its
understanding and mandate from the Qur 'an, seeks rights and justice for women, and for men, in the
totality of their existence." (Badran, 2001)
To understand how Islamic feminism is different than the Western feminism, Hosseini suggested
that we can find the answers by:
"examining the dynamics of Islamic feminism and its potential in the Muslim world. It is difficult
and perhaps futile to put the emerging feminist voices in Islam into neat categories and to try to
generate a definition that reflects the diversity of

Similarities And Differences Between East And The East
Clash of Western and Islamic women rights in terms of religion
The geographical divergence that creates the distinction between West and the East is accompanied
by many factors that strengthen the ever–existing tension. Their contradiction derives from historical
and contemporary features defining the two "oppositions". Historically we could name the
colonisation processes and wars between them, at the present the main reason is the modern
globalized world. Namely, the impossibility of the Islamic world to adjust itself in the realms of
economically and culturally powerful development. In general, however, their great contradiction is
in the perception of life – in particular – their driving force. The East concentrates on religion, ...
The first finds it difficult to develop in accordance with the rest and those restrictions are mainly
imposed by the religion. It refuses to take into account the importance of what we call modern.
Through the history we have witnessed several transitions to modernization and often exactly
religion suffer throughout that process, since it is based on constant believes which are hard to
convert to a new era. In world full of opportunities, there is gender segregation in some Islamic
countries. In Sudan, for example, in public buses women must stand separately in the back. Their
existence and everyday living depends on their guardian who accompanies and literally possesses
them. The basic rights are taken away and replaced with an interpretation of the divine law that they
respect. In Saudi Arabia women are not allowed to drive because it would expose them to
"temptation" and lead to "social chaos". Meanwhile, in the West emerged the need to create new
laws and conventions in order to achieve gender equality. Women were given rights to vote, starting
with the Scandinavian countries – Finland (1906), Norway (1913), Denmark (1915), (successors of
the first two, apart from Europe – New Zealand (1893) and Australia (1902)). However, we cannot
neglect the facts of the past. Islam was the first religion to give a woman the right for inheritance.
While Arabic world had strong presence of women in their political life, for example prophet
Mohammad's wife Aisha, in the West they were not influential at

Roles Of Women In Islam
Roles of Women in Islam
There seems to be a big controversial issue on the roles of women in Islam. People who are not
followers of the faith, believe that the roles of women compared to the men are unequal. Which
holds some truth, but according to followers it is not completely correct. Stereotypical Roles of
Muslim Women
In many cases, non–Muslims looking in at the women in Islam perceive their role to be one
associated with negativity. This, forces the women in the Islamic culture to be guarded since, these
stereotypes invade on their culture and personality as an individual. One common misconception
about Muslim women is that they live under an oppressive dictatorship ruled by their husbands and
fathers. Which can be very misleading since, many people start to think that the women are forced
into marriage and are forced to wear the veil. Although, some of these ideas are true, they're not
oppressive of the women within the Muslim community. Instead, many of these ideas are customary
and are part of their culture. The basic role of a Muslim women is to be devoted and enthusiastic
about raising the children and being a good wife. Which seems to be a common role promoted in
most other cultures as well. Therefore, it's not unusual for a woman to be perceived as the individual
responsible of taking care of the house and the children. Modern Roles of Women in Islam
The Muslim community has progressed and moved forward with many modern views on women.
The role of a

Role Of A Woman Within Islam And Their Daily Source Of...
Women in Islam are constantly viewed, from the Western standpoint, as a suppressed culture.
Though this may be true to certain extents, such as not mixing in with the men at mosque, we can
find that generally, the Islamic woman is well respected and held in high regard. "Women in Islam
are; mothers, sisters, partners, workers, scholars and business owners and managers" (al–Hashimi
4). Within this research paper, we will review the role of a woman in Islam and their daily source of
happiness.
An Islamic woman, on the basis of a comparative life, is hardly different from say, an American
woman. In some aspects, an American woman may be in awe to learn the truth behind the Muslim
female world. For example, when a married American woman has a family to support and works to
provide income, this is to help her husband support their family together. Though in the Islamic
world, the female Muslim works for her own accord. Due to Islamic law, a woman may work to
acquire money, however her earnings are hers and hers only. If she chooses to help her husband
support the family with her earnings, she may do so (which is common practice).
Another common misconception when comparing an American woman to an Islamic woman would
be their appearances. The American woman typically strives to be the best looking one in the bunch,
show enough skin, but not too much skin. Put on enough makeup to cover blemishes and skin
problems. Wear the newest, hippest clothing they are allowed to

Status of women in ISLAM
```STATUS OF WOMAN IN ISLAM
Outline
Woman–as vital to life as man himself
Islam gives woman rights and privileges, never grated before
Quran addresses men and women jointly
Modern woman seeks rights by force
Woman has equal share in every aspect of life
She is equal in responsibilities
She is equal in pursuit in knowledge
She is entitled to equal freedom of expression
Islam determines her share in inheritance
A misconception regarding this share & her witness to civil contact
Some advantages woman enjoys more than the man
Veil–not a hindrance rather a blessing for woman
Conclusion
The status of woman in Islam constitutes no problem. The attitude of the Qur'an and the early
Muslims bear witness to the fact ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The saying of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), in this regard, is following: "Whosoever has a
daughter and he does not bury her alive, does not insult her, and does not favour his son over her,
God will enter him into Paradise".
The Holy Quran provides us a clear–cut proof that woman is equal in all respects with man before
Almighty God in terms of her rights and responsibilities. The Holy Quran states: "Every soul will be
(held) in pledge for its deeds" (Quran 74:38)
In terms of religious obligations, such as offering daily prayers, fasting and pilgrimage, woman is no
different from man. In some cases indeed, woman has certain advantages over man. For example
woman can and did go into the mosque during the days of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and thereafter
attending the Friday prayers is optional for them while it is mandatory for men. This is clearly a
tender touch of the Islamic teachings because of the fact that a woman may be nursing her baby and
thus may be unable to offer prayers in mosque. They also take into account the physiological and
psychological changes associated with her natural female functions. The right of females to seek
knowledge is not different from that of males. When Islam enjoins the seeking of knowledge upon
Muslims, it makes no distinction between man and woman. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH),
said: "Seeking knowledge is

Women Need Feminism? If So, What Kind?
uslim women need feminism? If so, what kind?
In this essay I will be arguing whether Muslim Women need feminism, and if so, what kind? The
term feminism is a set of beliefs that recognises the distinction between males and females.
Feminism is largely concerned with the idea that females are subordinated or disadvantaged in a
system where males are dominated and advantaged. The term Muslim is derived by Islam, which is
a belief and practice, and it indicates safety and peace. The different perspective between the
western and eastern women, have led the west to create an idea that Muslim women need feminism.
As the rights of women in the Middle East have systematically been denied. Many governments
control and restrict the civil society. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It argues that the legal and social inequality, has caused a double standards. As women in Muslim
countries witness unequal laws and unequal applications. Women have fewer say and rights in
marriage, divorce and even property. For instance, in Lebanon, access to divorce for men is easy
whilst access to divorce for a women is very difficult, as battered women cannot report for divorce,
in accords to the abuse without an eyewitness, also a medical certificate from a doctor for her
physical abuse is not enough. However, this has changed over the years, as women in Egypt can
divorce without a cause. But in order for the women to divorce, she will have to agree with
procedures. For example, they must agree to "not only to renounce all rights to the couple's finances,
but must also repay their dowries." This means any women seeking to divorce, needs to buy their
freedom. As a result of this, Muslim women needs feminism, a kind of feminism that fits into the
Middle East culture and values, also that makes laws fairer.
If fairer laws were put into practice, this would reduce the numbers of females at the age of 16 that
are forced into marriages. For many girls marriage is the only available option, as in many Muslim
countries they are restricted from education, politics and economy. This as a whole affects women,
in terms of participating in society, not being able to work, and even not allowing independent
women to exist. As a result of women not being able to financial

Gender Issues Within The Arab World
Executive Summary: In my research brief I focus on gender issues in the Arab world because the
situation is getting better but still the problem is there and women are suffering there. The
implementations I suggest might not be supported by the government , but with the help of national
organizations they should realize that your sex does not matter you still have equal rights. In
Phakistan, in every third hour a woman is raped and there is not any law to support her because the
court needs eyewitness which is impossible to have in such situation. In Afghanistan, women can
not have sexual life before getting married. These are real issues all in connection with women's
rights because in those countries, men use women and they cannot protect themselves.
Outline the problem: Women's situation is possible and necessary to change, because women are not
subordinate to a man by nature. But the Arab society does this to women and nothing has changed
over the last few decades so it seems if it would natural and self–evident to men to use women. The
growing number of women 's movements have shown the need for change. The change should be
focusing on the entrenched social convection, which departed from the times of Islam teachings.
It is also possible to form and regulate conditions that may be favorable to male–female relations
and Islamic cultures can meet. I emphasize that the Muslim feminism is not comparable to the
Western feminism, the problem is rooted there that society

France Bans the Muslim Burqa and Veil Essays
Within the Middle East, the largest population of the men and women are Muslim. The Muslim
religion suggests that women wear a veil or hijab, which is a head scarf that only exposes a woman's
eyes, accompanied by a burqa which is a full body cloak. The sole purpose of the clothing is to
cover a woman's feminine features from men's eyes. The Qur'an, an Islamic scripture, supports and
slightly obligates the uniform by saying that women are to be conservative, "let them wear their
head covering over their bosoms, and not display their ornaments." (Qur'an). It could be inferred
that women wear the burqa and veil willingly because of their geographical location. However,
when Muslim women are withdrawn from the Middle East, and are placed ... Show more content on
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France drew international attention, questions, and opinions on the justification of this new law.
Even though France's main response to their justification of the ban is to preserve the French
culture, the law also positively addresses other problems such as: religious freedom, public safety,
and women's rights. When I was introduced to the topic of France's ban on the veil, I disagreed with
the law. I took a position based on my customs as an American citizen, which differs completely
from those of France. International critics began to argue that France is violating what people call
"Freedom of Religion," which I agreed with at first. As a foreigner from America, I am accustomed
to the American government's definition of freedom of religion. Protected by the First Amendment,
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free
exercise." (Religious Freedom). You can express your religion in public, during church, mass, or
religious meetings. So the presence of religious items such as the burqa's and veil do not disturb the
people or government. However, until I put myself in the other person's (France's) shoes, I hadn't
realized that customs differ from one country to another, so I began to look at the accusations
through France's eyes. I too, then viewed the ban as a positive movement by France, influenced by a
government's determination to govern their citizens under laws, which they found suitable. Although
they

What Women and Islam Have in Common Essay
What Women and Islam Have in Common
What do women and Islam have in common? Besides the stereotyped images that each suffers from
individually, the status of women in Islam is one of the most extremely misunderstood and
incorrectly portrayed things in western society. We can investigate why this is so later. First, a brief
introduction to the actual status of women in Islam is in order.
Before discussing issues pertinent to the social status of women, consider the original creation of the
woman as portrayed by the Quoran (the Islamic holy book) which does not subscribe to the view
that Eve was created from the crooked rib of Adam and thus is of inferior status: "O humankind, be
conscious of your Sustainer who has created you out ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Islam has also ensured the woman's right to remarry pending a three month refrainment period.
As for social rights, Islam has always recognized the prominent role that women play in society.
They are given the freedom to pursue any profession including political positions. Both in the past
and present day, women in Islamic societies have reached political heights unparalleled in the most
"advanced" western nations. Even in the earliest day of Islam, Aysha, the daughter of the prophet,
lead an army of 30,000 soldiers. Currently, women lead two Islamic countries: Benazir Bhutto has
served as the prime minister of Pakistan since 1988 and has been a strong and remarkable leader.
Turkey is also headed by a Muslim woman, Tansu Ciller, who was elected the prime minister in
1993. Here in the U.S., we still have never had a female president and the outlook doesn't look too
good either.
Those are just a few of the facts. Why then is Islam portrayed as a religion that oppresses women
and puts them in a position inferior to men? Part of that is certainly due to the stereotyped image of
how Islamic women are portrayed in western media as an extension of Islam–bashing. A prominent
example is the movie "Not Without My Daughter" in which scores of false and fictitious depictions
were made of women in an Islamic country. It is also true, however, that in many so called "Islamic"
countries, women are not treated according to their God–given rights. But this

The Misconceptions About Women in Islam Essay
The Misconceptions About Women in Islam
While people in the west think that women in Islam are oppressed, they do not know that Islam
liberated women from oppression. There are many people who have opinions about the religion of
Islam, but mostly about the women who follow it. Westerners have this idea that women in Islam are
disrespected, mistreated and oppressed. In actuality, these allegations are incorrect. Women in Islam
have rights and are not oppressed. The veil is widely misunderstood and many do not know what it
represents. In many ways, men and women are equal as much as they are not; and this is in every
religion. In Islam women are given many rights, such as owning properties, having an education,
working, and ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
He wrote a book, Islam; What Everyone Needs to Know and states in it that "The revelation of
Islam raised the status of women by prohibiting female infanticide, abolish women's status as
property, establishing women's legal capacity, granting women the right to receive their own dowry,
changing marriage from a proprietary to a contractual relationship, and allowing women to retain
control over their property and to use their maiden name after marriage." (p. 89). The hijab, also
known as the veil, is widely misunderstood. Westerners believe that this is yet another sign of
oppression. Wearing the hijab has many reasons behind it, "The custom of veiling is associated with
Islam because of a passage that says, "Say to the believing women they should lower their gazes and
guard their modesty. They should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty."
(24:31). The veil represents the religion of Islam. It stands for modesty, and that there is more to a
woman than how she styles her hair. A woman should be judged for what she says than how she
looks. In the Qu'ran chapter 24 verse 32, it states "And say to the believing women that they restrain
their looks and guard their private parts, and that they display not their beauty or their
embellishment except that which is apparent thereof, and that they draw their head–coverings
over....and that they display not their beauty or

Essay Women in Islam
In my research paper, I will try to argue that the way that Muslim extremists treat women in Islam,
couldn't be further away than what the Islam preaches. Misinformation and misconception about
Muslim women is the main reasons why so many Westerner's have the picture of Islam, especially in
America, associated it with bad images of oppressed women hiding in their hijab,, or walking
behind their husbands. What does Islam say about women and their right's. Do Islamic countries
follow Islamic teaching when dealing with women's issues? Beliefs about how Muslim women are
treated and blame the religion instead of the culture from which they came from. I hope that instead
of falling into the typical stereotypes and cultural innovation, the ... Show more content on
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The men will take excerpts completely out of context and use this to justify the maltreatment. This
has been a growing problem within the culture and women still to this day are going without their
basic rights for education and kjklfjdkl. husbands, and or family for the sake of religion. oppressed
by their husbands or family for the sake of religion. Many of those extremists argue that this is the
direct word of God and I intend to prove that it's not. I believe that in order to understand true Islam,
we need to go back to the root's and study the original teaching and apply that to today's society.
American's and other westerners think that Muslim women are forced into the dress code of
covering from top to bottom, but most of the Muslim women who dress in the traditional hijab,
choose this because they feel so liberated, and quite often, it's a personal choice according to their
own convictions.
What is the Koran and when was it first revealed? The Koran is the sacred text of Islam, divided into
114 chapters: revered as the word of God, dictated to Muhammad by the archangel Gabriel, and
accepted as the foundation of Islamic law, religion, culture, and politics. This book encompasses any
problem a Muslim faced from the time of it's revelation 1400 years ago until the end of time; still
remains

Muslims Women’s Rights to Practice Their Religion Essays
There is a huge controversy about the hijab in some countries; France, Turkey and Tunisia are the
most recognized countries in banning the hijab. France is not like other countries that allow the
hijab; it rejects the whole idea of wearing headscarves. France bans Muslim women who wear the
hijab from going to schools or even having jobs. In the Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran,
women are forced to wear head scarves. Other countries like Turkey and Tunisia ban whoever
female works in the education field from covering her head. The hijab is a symbol of being Muslim,
and it should it be left to the Muslim women to wear it or not.
French, Turkish, and Tunisian should ask themselves the question, why do we have Muslims here?
The ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
That does not mean that Islam makes discrimination between the two genders like the French think.
They have to be liberated from these ideas. "The wearing of the hijab is the equivalent of someone
walking with a sandwich board proclaiming that men and women are not equal," said Sandrine
Mazetier, a Paris deputy who handles immigration for the Socialist Party in the National Assembly
(Sachs 2). How can important and educated people in France think like this ignorant way? Islamic
scholars think it's enough to wear modest clothes. It's acceptable to wear headscarves, but not going
beyond that and wearing naqib or burqa.
France also discriminates against Muslim women who wear the hijab. They do not allow them to
enter schools. They put this law of banning the hijab in 2994 law prohibition inside schools
(Esposito 265). On the other hand, they permit other religious people to practice their religions.
They allow Roman Catholic students wearing a crucifix, Protestant students wearing a cross, Jewish
male students wearing a skullcap (Muslim Headscarves 1). This law is not only for schools, but also
for jobs. They dismiss these Muslim women from their jobs. This law has impacted their families.
Some of these women do not have fathers, brothers, or husbands to help them get money. In this
case, they have to work to feed whoever they are responsible for. Where are human rights that
France always talks about? Or is it only a phrase that France uses to

Positive Changes in the Quality of Life for Woman in Morocco
In recent years, Morocco has made positive changes to the rights and quality of life for women.
These changes include educational opportunities, use of contraception, more public participation,
and greater participation in the paid workforce. With the persistence of patriarchy, the presence of
religion, and the current spotlight on the Middle East, life of Muslim women still remains invisible.
It is valuable to explore the ways in which Muslim women explain their place in society today.
Many feminist movements in Morocco parallel those in the western world and create several notable
achievements on behalf of human and women's rights. At the political and social level, there are
signs that conditions for women are changing. Social organizations, which encourage women's
rights, are becoming more popular and influential. During the last part of the 19th century
continuing through the 20th century women in well off classes had access to feminist ideas and
developed the first period of feminism in Morocco. After the independence period of the 1940s the
Moroccan palace created the "Feminism of State." Although more of a silent representation rather
than an active transformer it paved way for more active forms of feminism in the 1970s and 1980s.
In 1969 the National Union of Moroccan Women was created and the Moroccan Association of
Familiar Planning began in 1971. These organizations began the second feminist generation and
movement, which moved through the 1980s and focused on

Paradise Beneath Her Feet and Women the State, and...
Paradise beneath Her Feet and Women the State, and Political Liberalization
By: Zenebech Mesfin
Paradise Beneath Her Feet by Isobel Coleman and Women, the State, and Political Liberalization by
Laurie Brand are two very interesting books on women in the Middle East and North Africa that for
the most part focus in on the roles and experiences women have in the economy, education and
politics. Paradise Beneath Her Feet is truly a great find. Coleman touches base on many key issues
that women in Islam experience. She brings some of these issues to a personal level, with antidotes
of women she has met, some who have been the victims of crime in the name of Islam and others
who have become respected in their communities for being ... Show more content on
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Muhammad Yunus, Founder of the Grameen Bank is often hailed as the architect of microfinance
lending and has been praised around the world for his work and even awarded the Nobel Peace prize
in 2006. The concept of microfinance is to lend small portions of money to poor people who could
not have otherwise acquired a loan from a regular bank. Microfinance banks give the poor a small
loan with incredibly high interest rates in the hope that the borrower will create a business or some
form of income creating venture to sustain themselves and pay back their loans. Not only is that
person left with a way to support themselves, but it also creates jobs in the community. These banks
have noticed that when the money was lent to a family through the woman of the household, it went
a longer way than if the man of the household received the loan. Yunus has noticed even within the
Grameen Bank that "Poor women [have] an amazing skill, the skill of managing a scarce resource."
(12) Studies have shown that if a mother is receiving income the first beneficiaries are her children.
The effects of this are amazing, many communities have seen a rise in school enrollment and
improved child survival rates because women are more likely to spend money on food for their
children and health care than are fathers. There is a saying, "If you give a man a fish, he will eat

Islam Gender Equality
Islam has gradually claimed its title as the second largest religion in the world after Christianity
(Severson, 2011). Muslims make up majority of the population in 49 countries (Desilver, 2017), but
within those countries, approximately forty–five of them are inhabited by half a billion Muslim
women (Galloway, 2014). Throughout history, women have been disregarded, dehumanized,
disenfranchised, and censored in society. Within Islam, it has been widely believed that Muslim
women are secluded within their homes. To many, this seclusion highlights a religious culture that
oppresses Muslim women. The controversy of gender inequality between Muslim men and women
continues to derive from the historical inferior position of women (Galloway, 2014). Like other
religions, there are several controversial aspects within the religion that contribute to growing issues
of gender equality in society. In this case, Islam is perceived to be the backbone of gender inequality
between Muslim men and women. It is important to put into context the social roles of women in the
past, the inferior position of women, and the cultural and traditional aspects of Islam. Issues of
gender equality within Islam are mainly derived from the interpretations of the Qur'an and their
religious practices. This study will examine the effects Islam has on the role of women and how it
can promote religious empowerment towards Muslim women, and cultivate equality between the
genders. It is important to consider

Challenges Women Confronted in the 1990s Essay
Four important challenges confronted women in the 1990s: increasing practical literacy, gaining
access to employment opportunities at all levels in the economy, promoting change in the perception
of women's roles and status, and gaining a public voice both within and outside political process.
There have been various attempts at social and legal reform aimed at improving women's lives
during the twentieth century. Indeed there may be contradictions inherent in the gender agenda of
some nationalist projects, yet more and more steps are being taken so women can participate
actively in programs especially in the area of the physical sciences. This is an area where women are
now becoming more and more recognized. In the nineteenth ... Show more content on
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Muslim societies, in general, appear to be far more concerned with trying to control women's bodies
and sexuality than with their human rights. They either do not speak of women's rights at all, or are
mainly concerned with how women's chastity may be protected (Abdullah, 1988).
Women are the targets of the most serious violations of human rights, which occur in Muslim
societies in general. Muslims say with great pride that Islam abolished female infanticide; true but it
must also be mentioned that one of the most common crimes in a number of Muslim countries is the
murder of women by their husbands. These so–called "honor–killings" are, in fact, extremely
dishonorable and are frequently used to camouflage other kinds of crimes (ibid).
Female children are discriminated against from the moment of birth, for it is customary in Muslim
societies to regard a son as a gift, and a daughter as a trial from God. Therefore, the birth of a son is
an occasion for celebration while the birth of a daughter calls for commiseration if not lamentation.
Many girls are married when they are still minors, even though marriage in Islam is a contract and
presupposes that the contracting parties are both consenting adults. Even though so much Qur'anic
legislation is aimed at protecting the rights of women in the context of marriage, women cannot
claim equality with their husbands. The husband, in fact, is regarded as his wife's gateway to heaven
or hell and the arbiter of her

Essay on Education: A Path to Gender Equality in Labor...
Human capital is a fundamental labor force. Thus, encouraging greater female participation or
reinforcing gender equality in labor markets worldwide will lead to gains in productivity. However,
what can be done to create gender equality? A study emphasized the equality of education. When
education access to women is equal to men, occupation opportunities and earnings of men and
women with similar education and experience are equal. A research in Pakistan and other studies are
introduced. Their findings suggest that education plays a vital part in gender equality in labor force.
In another word, education can be a path to gender equality in labor markets.
For education to be a path to gender equality, it must benefit woman equally to man. ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
Tembon and Fort also agree with this ideal. They basically state that education can profit individuals
in the labor market by assisting their admission into higher earning occupations and by increasing
their earnings within an occupation. So it can promote gender equality in labor market when
education access to woman is equal to man (Tembon, et all. Ed 68).
For education to promote gender equality, it must profit women equally to man, given the history of
discrimination against women and girls in schooling. In order to gain insights into the relationships
between education and labor market outcomes for women, one case of Pakistan is examined.
Pakistan has long been known for its gender gaps in education. Girls are behind in education access,
in the quality of schooling available and in the outcomes of education. Far from narrowing over
time, the gender gap in primary enrollment rose by 30 percentage points between 1985 and 1995,
even predominate over Afghanistan, where the corresponding gap rose by 18 percentage points over
the same period (computed from Conly 2004). This perseverance of gender inequality in access to
schooling damages achievement of the Millennium Development Goals for education in Pakistan.
The main study considers two relationships: the association between education and occupational
outcomes and the association between education and earnings. When examining the

Role of Women in Islam Past and Present
Mariam Abrar,
GEND 341,
Paula Humfrey,
May 25, 2006.
My selected topic is: Role of Women in Islam Past and Present
In this paper I will argue that the position of women in Islam according to the Qur 'an and Hadiths
(tradition) of the Prophet differs vastly from Islam in practice, currentely. It is not the Islamic
ideologies that determine the position of women in the Islamic societies; it is rather the pre–Islamic
patriarchal ideologies existing in a particular society, combined with the lack of education and
ignorance, which construct the Muslim women 's position. In the early days of Islam, women
enjoyed more freedom than many Muslim women today. Women were protected by laws concerning
such areas as inheritance, divorce, and ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Women can do work like men, but they do not have to do it to earn a living. They are allowed and
encouraged to take the duties of marriage and motherhood seriously and are provided with the
means to stay at home and do it properly. The majority of people try to blame the problem on
religion however the real problem is cause by tribal customs. Religion does not play a big part on
the status of women but it is tribal customs that play the big role in the status of women. Women 's
views were listened to, respected, and usually supported, by the Prophet* as we have seen. Women
have sometimes headed Islamic provinces, like Arwa bint Ahmad, who served as governor of Yemen
under the Fatimid Khalifahs in the late fifth and early sixth century. Women are also entitled to
respect as mothers: Allah says in the Qur 'an (31:14): "And we have enjoined on man (to be good to
his parents: in travail upon travail did his mother bear him..."According to The Prophet* "Paradise
lies at the feet of mothers"...and in another hadith the Prophet* told a man that his mother above all
other people, even his father, was worthy of his highest respect and compassion.Hadiths are the
sayings of Prophet Mohammad (May Peace Be Upon Him).
Marriages in Islam:
Marriage in Islam does not mean that the man takes over the woman 's property, nor does she
automatically have the right to all his property if he dies intestate. Both are still regarded as
individual people with responsibilities to

Essay on Islamic Society's Treatment of Women
Islamic Society's Treatment of Women From the time of birth, a Muslim woman's place in Islamic
society already has a shadow cast over it. Instead of the joyous cry that boys receive of "Allah
Abkar"1 when they are born, a baby girl is welcomed into the world with a hushed Qurannic prayer.
Although Islam venomously denies its role in the suppression of women, a survey of
Islamic countries reveals that women are denied their humanity. The status of women in Islamic
countries is undeniably inferior to men. Over the last twenty years, progress has been made in many
countries which has helped elevate the roles which Muslim women play in their societies. Although
progress has been made in certain countries, there still exist ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
An example of this is in Bangladeshi society, where women are not allowed to speak the name of
their husbands directly, because it is viewed as immodest and disrespectful.3 In addition to this
tradition that has been adopted from Hinduism, women in Bangladesh are rarely referred to by their
first name, but are instead addressed as men's wives, brother's sisters, or father's daughters.4
It is obvious from this simple fact that women are not viewed as individuals aside from what they
give to the world of men. To supplement these simple practices of suppression, there are also sacred
concepts and beliefs that exist in Islamic countries that display misogyny.5 Fatima
Mernissi writes:
Banning mixing of sexes and advocating the separation of men and women as the measure to
alleviate all political crises is far from being a novelty in Muslim political history. It is a tradition,
even a state tradition. Opposition forces claim past practice as the basis for treating women with
contempt. A Muslim Sovereign in a crisis, facing hunger riots or popular revolt, immediately has
recourse to the traditional practice of destroying the stores of wine and placing a ban on women
leaving their homes, and especially on their using the same transportation as men, reducing them to
the state of immobility in capitals like Cairo and Baghdad which are traversed by great
rivers....Wine and

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