The Status of Women in Islam

One of the most controversial topics debated in the modern era is that of Islam and its place in society. The western world has, perhaps due to the bias in western media, interpreted Islam to be an oppressive force in the face of female genital mutilation and forced marriages. Two opposing points of view, one based on liberal democratic principles and the other on the teachings of Islam, support separate styles of governance in Islamic society. Differing views on the treatment of women in society depend on how the treatment of women is understood by religious and secular groups. Popular misconceptions, contrasting ideas surrounding the governance of predominantly Muslim societies, and opposing feminist perspectives are prominent concerns surrounding the controversy of Islam, as interpreted by western society.

 While there are various misinterpretations of the religious practice of Islam, two of the most commonly mistaken issues concern the practice of female genital mutilation and the status of married women. One of the largest misconceptions of the religious practices of Islam is that of female genital mutilation. In fact, this is not a religious practice at all. If anything, it has more to do with cultural traditions and societal norms. The mutilation of female genitals involves either partial or complete removal of the external female genitalia, often resulting in permanent damage to surrounding genital organs. In most cases, this procedure is done by elderly women, often with little or no medical knowledge. To date, well over 132 million women have undergone such procedures. It is estimated that two million more are at risk of undergoing the very same mutilating procedure every year. The fact is that female genital mutilation is practiced by only a small percentage of Muslims. Furthermore, these practices take place in only a few corners of the world. Typically, these regions are home to sheltered communities and are situated in Africa and Egypt, predominantly. As far as the majority of Muslim woman are concerned, such practices are conceived to be unimaginable and horrific. The topic of forced marriages brings about yet another skewed interpretation of Islamic practice. While it is true that forced marriages continue to prevail in such areas as India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, not all Muslim women, notably those from differing backgrounds, would agree with such practices. In addition, and according to Islamic Law, the free consent of both parties is essential. If either party disapproves, a marriage would be considered illegal, and hence forbidden as it is not in accordance with religious law. Contrary to many preconceived notions concerning the individual rights of a woman under Islamic Law, the rights to individual contracts, to conduct business, and to earn money are in fact awarded to married women. In startling contrast to the western model of marriage, couples married under Islamic Law are entitled to separate legal status, individual property rights, and identifiable surnames.

Controversy over the argument that Muslim women are oppressed exists between the differing beliefs of the liberal and conservative Muslim. One belief, more liberal than the other, holds that Shari’a oppresses women. These believers are more likely to advocate the implementation of secular forms of government for the purpose of separating law from religion. The other, more conservative, belief holds that the oppression of women is not a Muslim issue, but an issue of the Western world. Out of these opposing beliefs emerges the dispute over the implementation of democracy and the rightful place of religion in the governance of a society. The argument in favor of Islam as the dominant force in society is based on the belief that the teachings of Islam cover all aspects of societal life, including political. A proponent of this belief would therefore see no reasoning in separating religious practice from state governance. The argument descending from a western style of democracy emphasizes liberal democracy as a system of governance, but only in the political sense. This approach suggests that the governance of the state remain only as a guideline for other affairs, while ensuring the political rights of visible minorities and women alike.

   Generally, there are two popular views on the status of women. One view holds that all women and men are considered equal and that women should therefore be treated equally to men. The other view assumes that all women and men are different in terms of mental, physical and emotional characteristics and that woman and men should be treated according to their gender. Advocates of the former view would support a governing system based on the principle of equality for men and women in social domains and particularly in the legal department. Supporters of the latter view would suggest that because the strengths and weaknesses of a woman are different than those of a man, a government based on the separation of social and legal domains according to gender is a suitable form of government and necessary for the proper function of society. These contrasting views bring about much controversy in the feminist community. The western feminist movement is based on the objective of women attaining equal status to men. In contrast, Muslim women tend to focus on the separation of gender roles. In effect, the implementation of western feminist views have created a society in which women now have access to the same job opportunities and share the same job positions as their male counterparts. Muslim women see the separation of gender roles simply as a division of labor, while the rights and responsibilities are shared between men and women equally.

 A mosaic of controversial topics sets the stage for a probable continuation of opposing stances on topics ranging from existing misinterpretations of Islamic practice to the differing views of what it means to be a feminist in the twenty first century and the process of democratization in Islamic society. In light of the possibility of the eventual elimination of preconceived notions based on false or misleading information surrounding the issues of female genital mutilation and forced marriages, it is likely that opinions would continue to be parted. Proponents of western feminist principles and those of Islam will undoubtedly remain divided on the issue of equality. These stances generally take on regional characteristics, as they are subjected to and largely depend on the vastly different ideologies of western democracy and that of the teachings of Islam. Perceived through a lens larger than that of a strictly Muslim or western perspective, it becomes evident that cultural differences will remain a prominent dividing factor between two great societies.

Bibliography

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 Reuters, “Investing in women key to ending poverty: UN.” Metro, Ottawa, ON. (13/10/05): World, p.6.

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 http://www.library.cornell.edu/colldev/mideast/women.htm. Women & Gender Issues, November 19, 2004.

 http://www.allaahuakbar.net/womens/women_sharia_and_oppression.htm. Women, Shari’a, and Oppression, November 7, 2005. 

http://www.opendemocracy.net/democracy-opening/islam_2990.jsp. Democracy in the Arab World, March 11, 2005.