Welcome to Gaia! ::

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfwHWijhwYM

As a feminist, this gives me hope. I had always thought that Muslim women were oppressed and treated terribly. I still do, for the most part. However, I see this as a step forward for woman in Islam.

What do you think? Also, one more question- I think that the Hijab is very attractive. Do you wear a Hijab? How do others see you(Or how do you think others see you)?

Yes, as Shuvoo said, it is not the religion itself. I think it's a cultural thing in the Middle East.

I, for one, think the hijab is pretty, too. As long as the woman is wearing it on her own accord, I'm fine with it. It's like if a woman only wants to wear dresses and skirts, it's okay as long as she decided it on her own.

That video isnt loading for me.

But to see if a Muslim woman is oppressed or mistreated, it's best to ask them about their condition, not just assume something based on what Anti-Islam propaganda says.

I dont wear hijab, because i know I cant make the commitment yet. But when I hope to one day.

In Islam, a woman is treated like a queen.

Until she gets married, the men of her family are 100% financially responsible for her. She doesn't have to lift a finger working if she doesn't want to and it is their religious duty to pay for what she wants and needs. Then once she's married this responsibility passes onto her husband. And if she has no husband or male relatives, the responsibility is on the men of the society as a whole. Imagine that! Never having to work a day in your life, and still getting anything you want.

If a man wants to marry a woman, he is also suppose to provide her with living conditions that are equal to or above the conditions that she is currently living in.

Islam also teaches that paradise is beneath your mother's feet. It doesn't teach this about the father. It also says that the person we should be most respectful to and obedient to is our mother, our mother, our mother, and THEN our father. So much for a "patriarchal" society, eh?

I could go on and on, but the post would get too huge. sweatdrop

I have never agreed with the way Muslim women have been treated so I am really liking this University idea. I think it is important for everyone to learn, even if they are not going to hold any position of "power".

I know the hijab is their traditional garb, but I'm not sure what I think of it. I guess I could say it feels like they are still trying to hide their women away by having them wear it. I am sure some like to wear it, but others may not have. *shrugs* It seems like they still do not have much of a voice.

Plus, I wonder what their hair looks like? Just a random thought that always pops in to my mind.

Unfortunately, many women of this society have forgotten that the role of being a home-maker & a mother is just as important if not MORE important than working outside the home. Equality doesn't mean being the same. As a Muslim woman, I find it sad women are trying to be men instead of using their own talents & abilities to excel as women; traditional roles complement each gender in the best of ways...Mothers are the teachers & ultimately builders of society. Once there is a lacking in that role, the whole society falls apart (take the US, for example).

Something important to note is that Islam teaches ALL people to educate themselves through whatever means they have. So men & women are to be equal in responsibility as well as intelligence.

What makes you think working outside the home is women "trying to be men"? I have never met a woman who identified a woman who was trying to be a man. As a woman who has NO interest at all in home-making or motherhood, I am a woman and live life as a woman. In no facet of my life do I try to be a man; all I want is to be acknowledged as a person.

Being shut up in the home and prevented from doing what you want to do in life, either by law or social expectation, is sexism and is reprehensible. If what you want to do is raise kids and keep house, that's fine. Expecting other women to do so also, and calling them un-womanly or suggesting they are trying to be men because they prefer to live in different ways, that is sexism.



The society of the US is falling apart because of greed, corruption and the failings of capitalism, not because women have gained the same freedoms men enjoy.

Women are indeed allowed to work outside the home; it's not prohibited at all. I'm sorry I didn't mention that. In Islam, the fact is that she is not forced to work, rather she has a choice to do so. But there are stipulations such as if she has children, they should come first. If she works while raising the children well (maybe they are older & don't need complete supervision) then it should be fine, but we as Muslims we place the right of the society above the right of the individual. The health of the society is based upon the health of the family and, in turn, the health of the family is based upon everyone fulfilling their responsibilities.
It's great if someone is good at such and such a job, & I encourage us all to educate ourselves and get a job if we so want to. On the same note, even if you are better at that than being a mother, isn't guiding a young life more important? Isn't is something we would like to strive to become better at, even more so than anything else? We ALL needed our mother when we were young & in Islam, the child has a right over their mother (& father) to be raised well. If mothers don't dedicate their time & energy, children lose opportunities. I'm currently taking a Human Growth & Development class that has really shown me just how important it is to nurture children; how you do so affects them throughout life.
I don't know about others' ideas on whether a woman could be better at math or anatomy, but there are so many women who are examples of this. There is hardly an argument to say they couldn't be brilliant in this way. But as I see it, even if you think you can't be a good mother, you can be. & in Islam, the rest of the family is there to help out. For example, when I have children, my mother-in-law is willing to help me, especially in the month or so right after giving birth. She is a great example of a home-maker, actually...my husband says he values her staying home to take care of him more than any money she could have earned working.
As for the question of women being better than men at raising children, think about the nature of women (I am not stereotyping, this is just the honest truth of how the majority of women are). We tend to be more caring, gentle, & loving than most men. Also, women are naturally more receptive to the needs of their children whereas many men have trouble knowing what to do. Though, I should note that in Islam, the father is also valued & a necessary part of a child's life. When we supposedly aren't good at taking care of children, I think it's because we haven't prepared ourselves or maybe it's not our priority. You have to think about that. Most of the time, it just feels easy & right so few problems arise with that. But Allah knows best. Any mistakes are from myself & all truth comes from Him.