Quran Gender Equality

Great Essays
Asma Barlas performed a workshop on Islam and Autonomy, she showed a picture of a Burqa-clad woman which raised the question “does the Qur’an support gender equality?” Barlas raises many issues addressing her research subject about what the Quran says about patriarchy. I will be discussing Barlas arguments in depth and viewing whether the Quran truly treats males and females equally.

In summary of Barlas article she states, if cultural modes represent differentiation then what better maker on cultural difference than the veil? It distinguishes inside from outside, but also through which the eastern infiltration into the mysteries of the orient. The burqa is about cultural representation, but society has made it seem that women who wear a
…show more content…
Barlas states that “Quran does not define women and men in terms of binary oppositions, the Quran does not arrange women and men in terms of their degrees of metaphysical perfection, nor does it define them in terms of binary oppositions”. Rather, in the Quran men and women originate in the same self and at the same time. Since both woman and men originate in a single self and at the same time, there is either literally or symbolically no “Other” (Chapter 5, The Quran, sex/Gender, and sexuality). In other words, indicating The Quran shows no difference in the two. Barlas makes strong points on gender equality, but a question that comes to my mind is “If the Quran does not show patriarchy, and displays equality for both genders, then why is the male figure displayed as superior in most aspects of the Quran?” The relationship between Adam and Eve symbolizes how religion views woman. Some scholars point out patriarchy does exist in Islam; Surah 4 clearly legitimizes gender inequality. The fundamental difference between Islam and Christianity is their views towards sexuality. Christianity views sex as “profane and sinful” as a whole. Islam attacks women instead, Islam views woman a “living carrier of the danger of sexuality” therefore, women have to be controlled. Since Islam initiates women as an active sexual power, it is important to restrict that power over men. “A …show more content…
Does the Quran see woman and men in a hierarchy, and if Islam a religion of patriarchy. Barlas’ arguments consist of representing Islam a religion that is misunderstood by many, although it may seem Islam is more favouring towards males, that is not necessarily true. The Quran does view males and females different for various reasons and situations, but the Quran does not represent inequality. I agreed with Barlas, she had strong arguments and valid background knowledge. E.g. people viewing Islam of lack of gender equality, but the Qurans supports equity for all, “I shall not lose sight of the labor of any of you who labors in My way, be it man or woman; each of you is equal to the other

Related Documents

  • Great Essays

    The treatment of women in fundamentalist religions The treatment of women in the Middle East is barbaric, unjust and unthinkable. In Afghanistan alone “87 percent of women report having experienced physical, sexual or psychological violence or forced marriage”.1 In the Middle East women are seen as unequal in comparison to men just because they are born a female and are seen not to have the mental capacity of that of a man. The Quran itself has many conflicting ideas on the treatment of women. However, the Quran was written around 610AD so it has to be taken into consideration the fact that the attitudes and status of women back then was not the way it is today.…

    • 1598 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Great Essays

    Solar Women Analysis

    • 1561 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Throughout the course of human history and during many different societies, women have been treated as subordinates to men. A recurring theme between civilizations is that men are the superior sex, and a woman’s main role in society was to bare offspring. Although Muslim societies are not the first societies to have a patriarchal hierarchy, they have some of the most prominent male-dominated societies that persist into modern times. The role of real women in a genuine Islamic society can be observed through Rafea Anad’s life in the documentary Solar Mamas; however, Disney’s Aladdin also provides another fictional yet sometimes accurate depiction of a women in a similar Islamic society but from a different socioeconomic background. Muslims live…

    • 1561 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Great Essays

    Exploration of Women and Gender in the Middle East Ahmed, Leila. Women and Gender in Islam: Historical Roots of a Modern Debate. , 1992. Print. Keddie, Nikki R. Women in the Middle East: Past and Present. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2007.…

    • 1397 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Superior Essays

    With these aspects, one can start looking at all the way these religious texts are similar and different. The role of women in these texts are similar. In Exodus, a woman’s purpose appears to be that of a baby maker stating,…

    • 1387 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The three traditions of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism all have diverse interpretations of the creation story, specifically Eve’s role in the narrative. Throughout history, different interpreters have changed the degree of power Eve has compared to Adam, as well as her culpability for the downfall of humanity. While different factions over time have disagreed on Eve’s role in the story, there are certain threads present in all of them. All three traditions have misogynistic interpretations that are expressed in different ways and degrees.…

    • 970 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The three ways in which the narratives of the women who choose to veil disrupt “hegemonic understanding of veiling that have been shaped by ‘persistent colonial images of Muslims” is by using the veil as a symbol of patriarchal oppression, also wearing it as a desire to be a good Muslim women and to present themselves as person rather then a sex object. To begin with, one of the ways in which the narratives of the women who choose to veil disrupt “hegemonic understanding of veiling that have been shaped by ‘persistent colonial images of Muslims” is wearing the veil as symbol of patriarchal oppression. The way in which wearing veil creates a symbol of patriarchal oppression is by the fact that many Muslim women wear a veil because the male individuals…

    • 264 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In “Blanket condemnations,” Erum Hasan (2010) claims the discussion involving the burqa ban is being incorrectly addressed, with activists from different realms focusing on actions that prohibit this attire rather than discussing the Muslim women’s rights. Using an anecdote, Hasan introduces the discomfort and repudiation that a woman wearing a burqa can cause in the Western society. Notwithstanding, she declares this vesture is demonized by the West, being considered a symbol of Islam and consequently an outrage to non-Muslim realms. Mentioning countries which adopted decrees against the burqa, Hasan illustrates the political actions that are being taken worldwide, with governments dictating how their citizens should wear; such actions are…

    • 1306 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Unfortunately, many customs present women inferior to men, less worthy of basic human rights related with life standards (Nussbaum et. al, 1995). Another disturbing fact is that women are seen as a sexual object worldwide. This understanding brings also a demeaning attitude towards women. In Islamic world women are treated poorly as the incidents like men have the right to marry more than one woman or men killing their own daughters I the name of pride, show.…

    • 988 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In light of this belief, women who choose to wear the hijab out free will is an act of personal liberation. In concordance with Leila Ahmed, Muslim women are not simply following traditional Islamic norms and customs but are also manifesting an emphatic ‘NO!’ to anything that deprives their religious, cultural, and political…

    • 568 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Patriarchy In Religion

    • 1886 Words
    • 8 Pages

    The Qur’an also makes it difficult for men to use its scripture to justify oppressive behavior, but it does not make it impossible. In muslim tradition, muslim men are allowed to marry up to four wives if he is able to take care of them all, but women do not have that luxury. This is one example of patriarchy dictating the role of women in this religion. The marrying of multiple women is not the only oppressive behavior that exists in Islam. Early in Islamic history, women with prominent roles had been introduced in the Qur’an, but Muslim men were still the ones who interpreted it.…

    • 1886 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Muslim Gender Roles

    • 926 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Most religious organizations have been unequivocally dominated by men for hundreds of years. Historically, Muslim society is significantly gender based in that it makes blatant distinctions between the roles of women and men in both religious and societal aspects. Men are regarded as the caretakers and heads of their household while women are expected to be obedient wives and mothers taking domain of the family environment. More contemporary Muslims are torn between upholding the principles on which their religion was founded, and the current shift toward feminism in Western culture.…

    • 926 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Women in the Islamic society were not considered equal compared to men in the community. The extensive gap in gender roles was prominent in the Islamic Faith. Although the Quran states that men and women were supposed to be seen as equals, in this civilization, gender roles were simply not balanced. Muhammad was able to spread his message effectively with the help of other people. The two most important people that helped spread his message were in fact women.…

    • 1252 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Major Book Review Beyond The Veil Fatima Mernissi Syed Rizvi Fatima Mernissi’s book “Beyond The Veil” talks about how women are treated in Islam, political circle and the Arab culture. Like everything it has two sides, some people argue Islam empowered women in ancient Arab, where women were deprived of their rights. And, the other side argues, that women are mistreated in Islam, and have a lower status than men. In her book, Fatima Mernissi depicts both side of the story.…

    • 1536 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The evidence of gender equality is overwhelming throughout many religions. Many religions have a history of valuing men over women. Christianity and Islamic faiths are religions predominantly constructed by and for men. Women play a very small role in the forming of both religions and that tends to show in the practices and customs of the religions today. Women struggle to find a place in a religion for men without giving up ideas formed in a changing society.…

    • 1355 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The first argument of this statement is that this theory does not expose religious sexism. Indeed, this issue is understandable through the prism of the shariah law. (Mohammadi, 2007). Religion and God replace the people’s sovereignty known in Western countries. (Sadeghi, 2010)…

    • 1596 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays