women islam

Islam

According to Esposito (1999), there is often a "bitter debate" over the role of women in Muslim society (p. 688). The different role of women in different Muslim countries reflects this debate. On the one extreme, the Taliban in Afghanistan have closed women's schools because it is believed that women should not be educated and should instead serve in their "primary roles as wives and mothers," (Esposito, 1999, p. 688). Similarly fundamentalist interpretations, or misinterpretations, of Islamic law are evident in Iran, Sudan, and Algeria, as well as a few other places as well (Esposito, 1999). On the other hand, some Muslim women in Turkey and other countries eschew the veil and other hallmarks of female Muslim identity. Gender roles and norms remain one of the most contentious issues in Islam today, and this issue is also one of the reasons why Islam is both misunderstood and maligned by outsiders.

As Esposito (1999) points out, contemporary Muslim societies are navigating the tricky path between "old and new realities," (p. 689). The encroachment of Western values and ideals conflicts with the desire to retain core Muslim identities and the values of Islam. Muslim women are at the heart of the debate between old and new, because they represent at least one half of the population. That half of the population is prevented from voting in some countries, but not others. The diversity of Islamic self-expression reflects the vast diversity of Muslim culture around the world. For example, Turkey is a country in which some women choose to wear the headscarf to assert "collective identity," by which they are empowered ("Women in Islam," 2014). The sense of empowerment seems ironic to an outsider, and yet it can be easy to understand in the context of Western imperialism. The imposition of Western values on other societies is often viewed as a nuisance; wearing a headscarf is a symbol of opposition, cultural pride, and resistance.

In some Islamic countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia, the headscarf is not optional: it is mandated by law because Islamic laws are fused with secular laws in those countries. Moreover, the dress code for women is interpreted as a necessary marker of identity and personal values. The root word of "hijab" is "hija," meaning modesty ("Women in Islam," 2014). Women are expected to act modestly in their personal decorum, beyond just their way of dressing. The concept of "hija" extends to body language, verbal language, and behavior. Viewed as "culture bearers," women are entrusted with a specific duty and role that men do not have, which is to instill Muslim values in children, preserve the integrity of Muslim worldviews, and encourage ascription to Muslim law (Esposito, 1999). Gender segregation in domestic and public spheres reflects traditional values. Westerners sometimes impose a foreign value system onto Muslim societies, and view gender segregation as a form of oppression. In reality, Muslim women in some societies view their roles in a positive light ("Women in Islam," 2014).