Muslim Women and Western Ideas of Feminism

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Muslim Women and Western Ideas of Feminism Western feminists aim for completely equal rights for men and women. They want to liberate women from perceived oppressions from men. Their aims are to give women completely free choice in their decisions. Such examples are child-bearing. This is a good view to the extent that men and women were created equally and so they should be treated equally. However, their views would not work in an Islamic culture. The Qur’an does states that, “Women have the same (rights in relation to their husbands) as are expected in all decency from them; while men stand a step above them" As Western feminists want women to be treated as though they are on the same step as men, Muslim women would not be able to accept this. Men are seen to be more capable in Islam. They do not necessarily have more rights, but their capability is higher due to their physical nature. In Islam, women are treated with the highest esteem. They are not seen as inferiors or as sexual objects. They are seen to be very important in life as they give birth. The Qur’an mentions how men and women cannot be separate. They both compliment each other and must work together. They are like the yin-yang. Each half needs each other in order to complete the circle. If they separate and are treated as exact equals, then they cannot compliment each other. Women convert to Islam for a number of reasons. Firstly, they may just convert due to personal, political, cultural or spiritual reasons. Perhaps, they have married Muslim men and felt it necessary to convert to their partner’s religion. Some may convert due to oppression from men. In Western society, women can be seen as sexual objects and can be forced to wear sexually revealing clothes, etc. In Islam, women are encouraged to wear the hijab. Islam could benefit from the West in terms of equality. Some people could see giving women the same rights as men as a positive note.

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