Women and Islam the Image Term Paper

Stereotyped depictions of Muslim culture in the media make it seem that all Muslim women live in a Harem, following orders from their tyrannical husbands. On the contrary, many Muslim cultures have afforded women equal rights in the law and in the society. The Quran does not advocate the subjugation of women by men; in fact the Quran is arguably more egalitarian than the Old Testament upon which both Judaism and Christianity are based. Some passages in the Quran can be interpreted as advocating gender equality. If the Quran has been misinterpreted by some Islamic societies then it is not the fault of Islam but of corrupt political leaders. Seeking to establish clear-cut male dominance over women, such nefarious leaders have stripped women of their innate human rights such as owning property. Those sexist practices are not part of Islam but part of political regimes that distort the religion.

Muslim women are often outspoken and forthright in their convictions, and have been recipients of awards as prestigious as the Nobel Prize. Historically, Muslim women have been scholars and mystics, doctors and scientists. They are not all belly dancers, harem girls, or mothers living in caves with seven children at their feet. Islam has the potential to become one of the most egalitarian religious traditions in the world. Offering women many social, economic, and political advantages, Islam produces some of the world's most powerful women. Unfortunately, however, Western societies inaccurately portray Islam. Focusing on the anomalies rather than the realities of daily life, Western culture assumes superiority by pointing a finger at Muslim traditions.

The veil is one of the primary targets of Western critics of Islam. Muslim women are urged to take off their veil or their traditional headdress as a sign of their liberation. Yet being liberated does not necessarily have to mean bowing down to Western cultural norms. Muslim women are not necessarily hiding behind the veil and many are not forced to wear it but choose to do so as an emblem of personal pride. Much as a woman in Western culture chooses to wear high heels, a Muslim women does not necessarily feel or act submissively when she wraps a scarf over hear head and otherwise dresses modestly. Appropriately, the veil has led Westerners to make assumptions about that which they cannot readily see in Muslim society.

Criticizing Islam for being socially backward is a tool of imperialism, proving that Western cultures continue to impose their values on others. Furthermore, Muslim societies are far from being homogenous and some are more egalitarian than others. Western societies should explore the realities of Muslim traditions and cultures before making blanket statements that perpetuate stereotypes.