Roles Of Women In Judaism And Islam

For years women have been subjected to prejudice and been forced to reside in the shadow of their male counterparts, leaving many of their notable actions neglected and underappreciated. However, the roles of women by domestic, religious, and educational standards in both Judaism and Islam have shown significant advances throughout the centuries. Despite the differences between these religions and their individual beliefs, women appear to be granted similar roles and responsibilities under Jewish and Islamic law. With regards to the domestic duties of women, it is evident that both faiths assign the stereotypical expectations of females. It appears that followers of both Judaism and Islam often believe that the primary obligation of women within …show more content…
This conventional image of a women’s domestic responsibility can be noticed in both Judaism and Islam, where men are often granted more freedoms than women. In traditional Judaism, men are often preferred over women, leaving females with the primary role as a wife and mother and limited rights. This is especially perceptible in early Judaism when a women’s fundamental purpose was to monitor the family’s observance of Jewish customs. This traditional role is viewed as sacred – the women bear children, run the home and take responsibility for their children’s Jewish upbringing (BBC). However, despite the reverence of the role within the Jewish faith, this orthodox perception of women has prevented them from achieving their full potential. Similarly in Islam, men are granted a dominant role, whereas women were, and still are, expected to honor their position as obedient wives and mothers. However, unlike Judaism, not only are Islamic women oppressed by their domestic characterization, they must also abide by the rules of polygamy that endow men the right to have as many as four wives (Oxford Islamic Studies). Fortunately, the status of women in Islam has improved considerably and the practice of polygamy is only granted if a man can provide for and treat each wife equally (Oxford Islamic Studies). It is indisputable that the roles of women according to domestic standards within Judaism and Islam show substantial similarities with minute contrasting details. Such comparability of roles is evident in other various aspects of each faith, including the treatment of women in places of worship and their overall religious