Misconception about discrimination of women in Muslim religion
Stereotyping about women and Muslim women is commonplace especially in non-Muslim countries. Muslims are highly perpetuated by the western media as oppressive towards women. There is a high notion that women are oppressed because of the way they dress and denied access of equal education opportunity. The western countries in Europe and the US have established moves to ban hijab, burqa and nigab[1]. They view the wide covering of the body by the Muslim community as oppressing and attempts to change their attire are a move towards freedom of dressing.
Contrary, many Muslim women engaged in dressing debate do not consider the hijab and headscarf as oppression, they consider them as an obligation. Muslim councils around the world claim that attempt to portray Muslim as a religion as oppressive towards women is misinformed. They use history to show that men in nature have oppressed and dominated women. In other religions where men oppress women such as historical China, religion is not used as a basis to explain the oppressive behavior[2]. Muslims consider the presumption that their religious is oppressive towards women as prejudicial. This study will present different points of view concerning Muslim discrimination against women. The study will use literally and historical context to base its argument.
Literature indicates that discrimination against Muslim as a religion causes them to face discrimination on a daily basis. While education is important to shape opinion and reduce prejudices in society, prejudices towards Muslims constantly increases especially in non-Muslim countries. Scholars have cited that the major reasons for the increase are media and political influence. The stereotyping of Muslims as terrorists and heightened prejudices increased rapidly after the 9/11 attack. Many institutions use advanced security measures when receiving Muslims because they are highly regarded as terrorists. In western societies, Muslim religion in general is considered negative in many aspects. They have been constant discussion on the dressing of women especially in nations such as the US and France where they make up the minority. France banned the use of hijab, while in the US there is a high campaign to ban the use of hijab citing as oppressive and denying women freedom. Critics of Muslim dressing code are majorly in non-Muslim countries. Additionally, many critics are also Cristian. Some of the young Muslim in western society also supports freedom of dressing and banning of hijab. However, Majority of Muslims especially women claim that the argument that wearing hijab is oppressing is wrong. They affirm that it is their right enshrined in religion and in tradition for Muslim women to wear hijab and that they wear clothing that covers their entire body out of will but not coercion. Every culture has its own tradition and way of life[3]. Rights must be multi-dimension. If a society considers that it is their right to wear certain cloths, outsiders have no position to judge the society based on right infringement. Similarly, Muslim may argue that western mode of dressing such as wearing trousers should be burned because it does not represent their presumed rights according to their religion and culture. It is selfish for the non-Muslims to criticize the dressing code of Muslim and prejudice them as oppressive by mere virtue of dressing. The issue of women oppression in Muslim society is not about dressing, it is about male dominance historically as can be observed in other religions.
Some biological anthropologists claim that male dominance is inherent and that men have an innate proclivity to be aggressive. Historically, men have survived through engaging in warfare to defend their territory. In many countries around the world, Muslims are the minorities and subject to constant discrimination. The quest for dominance between Christian and Muslim religion increase prejudices. Muslims are increasingly prejudiced in Christian societies. In some countries, Muslims are stereotyped as lazy and dirty a good example in Philippines. In Sri Lanka, they are considered reputable business people[4]. While in most western countries, they are considered as terrorists and highly oppressive. This cases point out that perception of Muslims in different places is different. Where Muslims are the minority, they are highly prejudiced. Small actions of few people are generalized as collective behavior of the whole religion. While some sects of Muslim religion take advantage of different interpretation of the bible to oppress women, Muslim religion in general cannot be considered as oppressive. Abuse of women and oppression is done by individuals in both western and Islamic countries. In fact, there are many cases of women abuse in non-Muslim countries than in Asian countries. Literature of women abuse and oppression consider factors such as individual personality and the level of education as the determinant factors when analyzing cases of abuse in non-Muslim countries. However, the attention shifts when non-Muslims are analyzing cases of women abuse and oppression in Muslim countries. They quickly assume religion as the single most influencing factor.
Historical integration of Muslim oppression indicates that non-Muslim perception that Muslims are highly oppressive towards women is simply a misconception. The common myth that hijab is a form of subjugation has no historical basis. Muslim religion is very cultured since its inception. The basic laws such as Quran and hadiths have historically provided guiding on how Muslims should behave. Fatwas, qiyas and ijma are yet other secondary laws that provide guidance on how Muslims should behave. Islamic laws have direct impacts that affect the life of women in terms of education, social life, dress code and marriage issues. Sharia law highlights the divergent roles between a man and a woman. Cultural significance and the use of different law place Muslim religion significant in influence the common life of Muslims. Scholars argues that Islamic is more than just an identity[5].
Despite the clear roles of men and women in various Islamic laws, history indicates that women were highly respected. Despite the fact that Mohammad married many wives, marriage in Islamic religion generally considered as playing a significant role in fulfilling needs of a society. Islamic religion was historically clustered alongside clans. Bigger clans had more power and controlled more wealth. Therefore, polygamous in Islamic religion cannot be construed to represent women subjugation.
Covering Muslim women body using hijab, burqa and niqab is meant for preserving dignity. Muslims explains that covering is meant to protect women from reduce the sexual objectivity that dress might bring. The idea is because men will not look women as sexual object but rather than dignified and intelligence partners. The dressing was also men to show a sign of etiquette, modesty and chastity. In fact, history show that dress that cover women body was worn by modest women that were non-Muslim. Example of prominent figures includes Mother Teresa, Virgin Mary, and Nuns. They wore clothes that covered most part to preserve their chastity. In addition, covering was meant to protect women from lusty looks from men. Critics who argue that Muslim covering of their body is a sign of subjugation only base they argument on their worldview. Historically, the US and western cultures are amalgamation of tidbits of cultures across the world[6]. They do not have a strong attachment with culture and tradition, unlike many nations in Asian countries. Western society has wrong assumption that all countries that are tied to culture affiliation are uncivilized. Preserving culture is among the freedom that people across countries should enjoy. Because of differences in culture, society has different worldview. Despite the difference, all worldview should be equal and respect one another. Western countries and non-Muslims in general should consider the dressing code of Muslim as traditionally embedded and part of cultural diversity, instead on narrowing it down to religious affiliation. Another misconception is that only women are overlooked in terms of dressing in Muslim religion. Muslim men too have unique dressing code, which they base on preserving their dignity. However, in most discussion about freedom of dressing only women dressing is emphasized. However, it is worth to note that there are many sects in Muslim religion that misinterpret the religion to further their oppressive agenda towards Muslims, just like terrorists from Muslim countries base their terrorism activities from religion. Non-Muslim countries such as western countries have fundamentalists and extremists who use religious and lead their follows to behave outside the expected norms.
Another highly regarded misconception is that Muslim women hold lower status than Muslim men. Analysis of Muslim religion points out that such claims are simplistic and misconception. Mohammed had at least nine wives and honored them greatly. In his own words as revealed in Quran, Allah regarded women as mothers, daughters, and wives, gave them rights, and added responsibility that is not reflected in many situation in men. Historically, Muslim women had a voice and could express their opinion freely. The prophet wives debated crucial matters with Mohammed and set an example to other women. Many women who are attracted in discussions about the alleged discrimination of women indicate that they do not agree with the allegation and affirm that they feel oppressed by the fact that they is a general perception especially from non-Muslims that they are oppressed. Many cases of women oppression in western society historically and currently are not cited to any religion. Instead, they are simply put in context of men dominance and issues of equality. However, it is different when it comes to cases of oppression of women in Islamic countries. The western media is quick to debate about how the religion in general is influencing oppression. Oppression of women either in the western society or in Islamic states cannot be based on any religion. Instead, oppression should be considered as an aspect of male domination across the world. Islam as a religion and the culture of Islamic state is not compatible with the western idealism of freedom and choice including to dressing. Issue such as wearing miniskirt is not agreed in Muslim nations as part of their culture. Despite the fact that Muslim do not agree with wearing miniskirt they do not try to influence western society to wear hijabs.
Another widely misconception is that Muslims women are forbidden to access education and have no right to inheritance. Gaining knowledge is a fundamental obligation by every Muslims. Muslims are emphasized to gain knowledge so that they can fulfil their religious and social responsibilities. The husband is expected to facilitate that his wife get abundant education if the wife did no access education from her parental home. Many Muslims women have gotten access to education and leading change in society. However, just like the western society and other non-Muslim countries many men are educated than women. Women access to education was gradual historically even in western countries such as the US. It was not until late 1950s that women got equal educational opportunities as men[7]. Despite the rise of women in education and leadership position the proportion of women entering institution of high learning increased gradually and that there was still many cases of discrimination and victimization of women in institution of higher learning. Scholars from western countries do not factor in religion input to the discrimination practices evident in non-Muslims countries. They consider factors such as income levels and family educational background as the determinants of discrepancies of proportion of women in institutions of higher learning. The same scenario applies to differences in sharing of inheritance where men seem to dominate across the world. It simplistic to argue that women access to wealth in Islamic countries is because of religion.
Conclusion
This study found that there are many misconceptions about Muslim women. Issues such as dressing, lower level of education and inheritance to Muslim women is highly based on the religious dominance. Non-Muslims and some western scholars argue that Muslim religion in general contribute to women oppression. However, analysis of historical background and literature indicate that women oppression in Islamic countries as well as western countries is highly tied to men domination rather than religion.
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[2] Arnold, Kathryn Christine. “Are the Perpetrators of Honor Killings Getting Away with Murder Article 340 of the Jordanian Penal Code Analyzed under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.” Am. U. Int’l L. Rev. 16 (2000): 1343
[3] Bonet, Sally Wesley. “Educating Muslim American youth in a post-9/11 era: A critical review of policy and practice.” The High School Journal 95, no. 1 (2011): 46-55.
[4] Rehman, Tabassum Fatima. “Women who choose Islam: Issues, changes, and challenges in providing ethnic-diverse practice.” International Journal of Mental Health 32, no. 3 (2003): 31-49.
[5] Hassan, Riffat. “Members, one of another: Gender equality and justice in Islam.” Available on the website of Religious Consultation on Population, Reproductive Health and Ethics at: http://www. religiousconsultation. org/hassan. htm (2015).
[6] Weiss, Anita M. “Interpreting Islam and women’s rights implementing CEDAW in Pakistan.” International Sociology 18, no. 3 (2003): 581-601.
[7] Weiss, Anita M. “Interpreting Islam and women’s rights implementing CEDAW in Pakistan.” International Sociology 18, no. 3 (2003): 581-601.