Liljagare

I would think that the subject of women's status in countries you refer to has more to do with the non-seperation of church and state and references to religious documents influencing state law. I mean, if you look at it, the Bible has just as many references to the inferiority of women/women as objects.

"For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man." (I Corinthians 11:8-9)

"Of the woman came the beginning of sin, and through her we all die." (Eccles. 25:22)

"A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. "(NIV, 1 Timothy 2:11-12)

And so on. Even in non Islam dominated countries, you still have women being paid less then men, not promoted due to the fact they are women, etc.

Ít just seems to come down to the fact that the more a majority of a country believe in one particular religion and if there is no seperation of church and state..well things such as the mistreatment of women can be justified by religious documents. It then becomes the "Word of God" and therefore the law. What is more interesting to me is what about the countries that do seperate church and state. What justifies women's lower status in these places?

Howard the Duck

^^because men are pigs, usually

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Malaise is THE dominant human predilection.

hip hop bunny hop

Oh please; why is there this obsession to bring up whatever shortcomings there are in the Occident as a manner of excusing the radical differences between the Occident & Islam?

Yeah, the glass ceiling exists - and we could debate whether or not any boss ever says, "Yeah, she's qualified, a hard worker, and even though promoting her would result in myself getting more money, - she's a woman, so I won't." but to compare that to the veil? Christ - that's a stretch. That's like comparing the removal of a hang nail to a field amputation. Both involve pain and removing a bit of your body, but they're still different.

No. Some Islamic nations are in a state of unrest; such as thoughs partaking in the awkwardly titled Arab Spring. Others, such as Saudi Arabia, remain paragons of stability, and remain strictly sexist. While there is variation on women's status in Islamic nations, when we look at - say - Islam in North Africa, the Middle East, Persia, Subsaharan Africa, South Asia, etc.... there's way, way too many similarities regarding the treatment of women to say extreme subjugation isn't the norm in Islam.

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Have mercy on the poor.

Mykonos

Hah, you're from or near the Midlands Pedestrian, aren't you? It's pretty easy to pick up a basic understanding of Islam if you're near Birmingham.

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'Not that Becktionary, the Rhyming Becktionary!'- Bender Bending Rodriguez

Paedantic Basterd

...Western Canada.

GeddyBass2112

Islamic views on women are many and varied. The Qur'an states that men have more physical strength than women (something which is physiologically true) and that men are the protectors of women, among other things. I don't have a Qur'an to hand and so can't give more detail.

Women are ,in the Qur'an, commanded to cover their 'awrah, or cover themselves in accordance with the laws of modesty. The idea is that only a woman's immediate family (including a husband, children and step-children) should see their 'private' parts. The actual practice of this varies: some cultures, such as in Malaysia and some Indonesian countries, the simple hijab is the norm alongside normal long-sleeved clothing. In others, the chador (Iranian cloak) or jilbab (long coat) or abaya (a long dress which can also serve as both a dress and an outer coat) are mandatory, along with the all covering khimar (a long all-in-one thing which covers all but the face or niqaab (full face veil). A combination of cultural norms, legal requirements but also personal choice allow women to pick whatever they feel necessary.

With regard as to whether Islam respects women, views vary. I'll find an essay I did and get back to you...

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Howard the Duck

Malaysian muslim women usually wear head-scarves as well, though this isn't mandatory

covering up their "aurat" isn't really mandatory as well, some still dress sexily

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Malaise is THE dominant human predilection.

Mykonos

Oh, hah, you confused me when you said you'd been to the same Elbow concert as me. I probably read that wrong though, sorry!

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'Not that Becktionary, the Rhyming Becktionary!'- Bender Bending Rodriguez

Paedantic Basterd

Oh, no, I had. I was in the neighborhood this past March.

Mykonos

One of my best friends is Muslim, and his mom doesn't wear a burqa of get too strict on covering herself up. He stills fasts for Ramadam, still prays at the Mosque on Fridays (at least when he's out if school) and still refuses to eat meat that isn't halal. Like many religions, it's partly people picking what they think is right out of the religion and leaving out what is wrong.

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'Not that Becktionary, the Rhyming Becktionary!'- Bender Bending Rodriguez