Muslim women, how do you feel about the gender inequality in islamic culture?
547281
personally i was never confronted to that as a muslim woman so i dunno.
89639
Hi! I'm from India. Here, as well as in some developed Islamic nations like Pakistan, Malaysia, UAE, Turkey etc. Muslim women have lots of freedom. We can pursue higher education and are consented in marriage issues. Although we can get out and roam but still the burkah is obligatory; and yes, even for the elite class ladies. If you do not follow purdah, they stick labels on you, the other women. Many college girls these days go out without it, wear make-up, and even try some western outfits! But suddenly some religious fanatics start making an issue of it, like they did when they blew Sania Mirza's(a tennis pro)case out of proportion for wearing a sports dress too skimpy and 'anti-Islamic'. Why don't they let us wear what we are comfortable in? Also, the divorce laws inflict great injustice upon us as even in today's India, any Muslim man can end his marriage by saying 'talaaq' thrice. Then there is polygamy( my sister's husband married another woman just for her family's money) and what not......! The conclusion? That Muslim women are still in shackles.....!
526370
what women get in the paradise it exactly the same as men. in arabic when you speak to a group of people containing men and women you speak to them using the masculine verbs. however, in the Quran many times Allah says femals or males many times (but not always) to make it clear that the talk is not toward men only but also to women.\nalso, the paradise contains whatever one desires. so, it's obvious that if women desires men then they can have it.\nsomething else to note is that women are genearally more shy then men. imagine the Quran speaking about virgine men her and there that will really embrace us women.\n\nSurah 3:195\n\nSo their Lord accepted their prayer: That I will not waste the work of a worker among you, whether male or female...\n\nSurah 4:194\n\nAnd whoever does good deeds whether male or female and he (or she) is a believer -- these shall enter the garden, and they shall not be dealt with a jot unjustly.\n\nSurah 16:97\n\nWhoever does good whether male or female and he is a believer, We will most certainly make him live a happy life, and We will most certainly give them their reward for the best of what they did.\n\nSurah 33:35\n\nSurely the men who submit and the women who submit, and the believing men and the believing women, and the obeying men and the obeying women, and the truthful men and the truthful women, and the patient men and the patient women and the humble men and the humble women, and the almsgiving men and the almsgiving women, and the fasting men and the fasting women, and the men who guard their private parts and the women who guard, and the men who remember Allah much and the women who remember -- Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a mighty reward.\n\nSurah 36:56\n\nThey and their wives shall be in shades, reclining on raised couches\n\nSurah 39:34\n\nThey will have with their Lord whatever they desire; that is the reward of those who good.\n\nSurah 43:70\n\nEnter the garden, you and your wives; you shall be made happy.
865698
There is no obsession with female chastity in Islam. True you are to remain a virgin till you are married but that is for men and women. There are several reasons for this, but Islam is not the only religion that promotes staying a virgin till marriage. And as for walking several paces behind there husbands this is a cultural thing, I bet the people you see doing it are either Indian or Pakistani Muslims (not that im saying all are like that ). I walk with my husband taking his arm or holding his hand. I'm a British Muslim, and my husband is an Arab. There are many women out there oppressed and in abusive marriages, that aren't aloud to leave the house without there husband, who are beaten, who are prisoners in there own homes and they are not of any religious denomination at all.  So yes you are wrong to link them to Islamic culture, but they do occur in Islam just like in christian, Jewish, Catholic, Protestant and atheist homes and men who are bullies and women oppressors come from all walks of life, all religions, all countries, all cultures. In Islam women are repected and treated like gold by there husbands, in our homes its the husbands islamic dutie to help 50/50. I for one have never felt more safe and respected. Full face veils are worn by choice there is nothing in Islam that says you have to cover your face and the small percentage of women who do, do so by choice, they do it for God not there husbands.
1153641
I'm a Muslim woman and i totally agree with you.\nIslam dignified the women.\nthanks God cause i'm Muslim
458438
cyanne is right. Theoretically, there can be no oppresion. In practice, women are very badly abused in Muslim societies. You should read this article from the International Herald Tribune which is about women in general, not only in Islam. (The IHT is published outside the US by the New York Times. This article may or may not have also appeared in the NYT.)\nhttp://www.iht.com/articles/2006/03/24/opinion/edali.php
548779
i think most of us feel like if we do wear it ppl will attack us.but i know many muslim women who have over come this fear and wear.and ppl always think its the husband that makes them wear it.but its the woman's decision to wear it no one else.but the niqab isnt obligatory.the ruling in islam is if u dont wear face veil then there is no sin on u.and if u do wear it then u will get blessings.
328933
I'm a muslim. And I always dress in Hijab (covering everything except face and hands) how is written in the Quran.\n\nThat way my beauty is only for my husband to enjoy :-)\n\nI don't think I would want everybody seeing. I would feel a little naked.
460168
This goes back to the earlier times when islam was introduced. Before islam People did not respect females and rape and adultry was at its peak. The ratio of men to women was really high and females were either killed at birth or were seen as signs of disrespect for families.\n\nSo following are the reasons that come to my mind for this decision.\n\n- So females would feel secure and no one would hurt them as they would come under the protection of a man. (we are talking about old times and not about 21st century - but its still true that females feel more secure if they have a man to protect them and to love them)\n\n- So men would not cheat on their wives (It is still proven that men/women cheat on their partners with others because they cannot control their sexual urges).\n\n- This would help reduce sexually transmitted diseases as then males would not be going for prostitutions or having extra maritual affairs.\n\nBut the most important thing to note here is that getting married to 4 females is not mandatory, its not obligatory that a muslim has to marry 4 females. \n\nAnother important clause that comes in having more than 1 wives is that you have to be equal to all your wives and make sure that everyone gets equal treatment and respect. I think this is the most important clause coz its very difficult to be equal to all. \n\nThe worst is that people dont understand that these laws are made for their own benefits and they have to fullfill the requirements before taking the steps. They have to understand that its not a previlage, its a responsibility and it has to be taken seriously. Wrong projections and implementation from ignorant indiviuals is what creates problems.\n\nI personally think one is more than enough for me :) .... like i said ... its not mandatory, its just a choice :)
1028807
Western women just have "Attitude"  because they were raised with the idea that they should get respect but they know that sometimes they have to fight for it.  (you may give plenty of respect to muslim women... but non-western women do not get nearly as much respect in their non-western countries as western women do in their western countries).  \nI live in Japan and teach in a public school.  Usually women are ALWAYS sweet and kind in general.... but when I started my job in at my school I was surprised by some of the women's behavior.  They had a much different attitude... some, but not all... I realized when this attitude came out... they acted differently (even to me) when they were around the students.... why, because they demanded respect from them and they behaved in a certain way to get it.\n\nAlso, Western women just have a different mentality.  As does the average muslim man.... guess what, they haven't been nearly as sweet to me (or respectful) as some western guys have to me.... though I'm generalizing... but so are you.  \nJapanese women on the whole are raised to think they're inferior to men... therefore they grow up behaving in a very different way.  Not nearly as bold in general... much more attentive to making themselves seem kind and sweet, thus convincing themselves of this, often they Are genuinely kind and sweet (socially)..... I trust it's something to the same extent culturally with muslim women.  \n\nit's a 2 player game.... our cultural ways were formed by interacting with men, and the good and the bad things that come with it.... I see what you're saying and you have a point...  perhaps the western women could be a bit kinder... though perhaps a happy medium would be better... we could also teach the muslim women to have a bit more respect for themselves and stand up for themselves at bit more when men treat them like crap (which they sometimes really do!  I've expereinced it myself with muslim men).\n\nWe're all products of our own societies.....\n\nenjoy your kind women... but treat them the same as they treat you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! with kindness and respect   :-D
944119
There is a whole surah named Women\n\n\nThe quran talks about women and breastfeeding for two years\n\nIt mentions the same amount of rewards and punishments for both men and women\n\nIt says that women get to keep what they earn\n\nWomen have a right to their own in heritance\n\nthe right to divorce\n\nIslam gives women the right to run for political office\n\nThe right to be supported by her husband\n\nThe right to get Dowery \n\nThe right to write her own marriage contract\n\nThe right to select her husband of choosing\n\nThe right ot to pray if she has her period or is sick\n\nThe right to keep whatever she earns from work, inheritance or otherwise\n\nThe right over her children\n\nThe right to vote for officers running for goverment\n\nThe  right to attain the same education as men\n\nthe right to be treated with dignity and kindness by her husband and all members of her family\n\nShould I go on sweethert?\n\nWe could be here all night....
177267
I am a female Muslim. Why are you particularly looking for a Muslim as a friend?
262140
:}\nMorocco is an Islamic nation. there in lies the answer as to how women are treated and thier political state.\n\nIslam is male dominated, women and wives are suservent/\nthey walk behind the husband and do not join in in male canversations at gatherings\n\nIslam does not see Women as an eaual creation of God. \n\nI include an article\n\nWomen's Rights in Morocco\nDriss Benmhend\n\nThe heated debate over improving women's rights in Morocco and revising the “Moudawana”, is back again in the media circuit. In March of 1999, former State Secretary for Family Affairs, Saïd Saidi, introduced a bill known as the “National Action Plan for Integrating Women in Development.” This modest bill was not intended to revolutionize women's rights, but, aimed to assert some basic rights for women against discrimination and abuse. However, opponents of the plan see that these changes as a diversion from our Islamic moral values. How is the abolishment of polygamy and raising the legal age for marriage from 14 to 18 going to threaten the attachment of our women to Islam? One may ask.\n\nEmancipating our women is not against the Shariâ, and I believe that the articles of the “Moudawana” proposed for revision (that certain parties find scandalous), represent the bare minimum that could be done for our female citizens, who suffer severely from poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, and all kind of abuses and discrimination. The Moroccan legal system is unfair towards women and needs to be revised, and yet many religious leaders continue to oppose these reforms. I encountered first hand, some of the ignorant and prejudiced views held by some Muslim scholars (Oulema). Few years ago, following the bombing of the trade center in New York, a number of Oulema from different countries (including Morocco) toured some US university campuses and gave talks about the “true Islam.” The purpose of the tour was to educate the American public about the true teachings of Islam. At the University of Michigan, I attended a round table discussion between these Oulema and students. At a question regarding a woman's right to divorce her husband, the Alim from Egypt replied that women cannot have that right because of their unstable emotions and temperament. He added that a woman then would ask for a divorce if her husband refuses to buy her a dress or for some other insignificant reason. Like all of the other students, I was shocked to hear this kind of belittling and degrading remark against women. These are not the teachings of Islam as I know it. In spite of my disgust, I tried to keep an open mind, and later told the Alim privately, that this could happen if someone were married to a 13 year old girl. So, why not solve this problem by raising the legal age for marriage to 18 or 20 years. He laughed at my idea.\n\nWhile most of the world is celebrating women's achievements and contributions to society, many theologians in the Muslim world are hiding behind their distorted interpretation of the Koran and Shariaâ, which reduces women to objects than men can use -through marriage- to satisfy their selfish needs. According to recent statistics, of 100 seven year old girls, 51 will enroll in school, and only 7 of these lucky 51 will finish high school. The rest will end up as maids working 16 to 20 hours a day in very abusive homes, or in sweatshops similar to Nazi concentration camps. We should recognize that there are many inequalities and barriers that are preventing Moroccan women from enjoying their basic human rights and assure their participation in the development of our beloved Morocco. As His Majesty wondered in one of his speeches, “How can we imagine setting up a civilized and prosperous community while women who represent half of it have their rights abused?''.\n\nDriss Benmhend\nMcLean, Virginia\nUSA\nMarch, 2001
370385
mostly the women r happy..if some r not they have the right to raise thier voices thats why thier voices make an image that all the women are not happy in pakistan....off course one who is happy has no need to go to any forum for announcing her happiness..... but the ones who r not happy using the complete liberty and extra ordinary rights which islam gives them rise thier voices.....some uneducated persons don't follow the rules given to them by the rellegion they follow but thats a matter of personal following and in general the culture of this area of world gives the most nice and more than equal rights to women.
86404
Because they have been conditioned to marginalize their existence all throughout their lives. There are man made dogmas in every religion. Few seems to care what the Prophet/Messenger taught. The Koran doesn't teach that women should marginalize their existence. Indeed men and women are equal before God.
1135616
Why are People so much concerned about Muslim Women wearing Hijab? Do they hurt you? Do they shock you, I think you have no concern with Muslim Women on Earth.\n\nHijab is Something ordained by Culture, go to countries like the UAE, Jordan, 95% of them are Muslims, but most of them doesn't wear Hijab and they are Muslims, Muslim Women wear Hijab in order to Protect theirselves from the Bad Attitude of the Modern Humanity, they can easily attract men if they don't wear Hijab and thereby causing Sexual Abuse or something illegal.\n\nI think Muslim Women have the most ordained and good attitude, and they try to be Virgin untill they get married, and this what all World Religions wanted to have in their community, for say, Christianty also doesn't tolerate all this kind of Sex stuffs is just that the religion has now mixed up with Paganism that's why.\n\nYes, Every Muslim Women is suppose to make herself clean, clear, and not just live herself like someone who comes out from the bush... This question is not reasonable...
653452
Good question !!!!! Lets hear from those who say that  muslim women who cover themselves are opprossed!!!