The Role of Women in Islam
The role of women in Islam is often misunderstood
In many cases, outsiders looking in at the women in Islam perceive their role to be one associated with several negative connotations. These stereotypical stigmas force the women within the Islamic culture to be somewhat guarded because these social stigmas infringe on their culture and personality as an individual.
One of the most common misconceptions is that women live under some sort of oppressive dictatorship ruled by their husbands and fathers. Stemming from this misconception also lies the misunderstanding that women are forced into marriage and are severely oppressed by wearing a veil. While some of the basis of these ideas are true, they’re not oppressive of the women within the Islamic community. Instead many of these ideals are customary and are ingrained within the culture. The role of the Muslim woman is to raise the children and be a good wife. Women are encouraged to carry out all of these duties with a devotion and enthusiasm. However, isn’t that what most cultures perpetuate women to be – domestic providers that supply a nurturing environment of unconditional love and devotion? Therefore, it’s not out of the ordinary for a woman to be perceived as the individual responsibility for planning family events, raising children, cleaning the house, preparing meals, and representing the family within social settings.
The Muslim community has progressed and moved forward with many modern views. The woman’s role is no longer just a mother and wife. Islam permits the women, within its culture, to voyage on the Hajj pilgrimage, to exercise the right to vote, engage in politics, to have a job and even run a business as the business owner. And women in Islam have embraced these rights by partaking in all of available platforms. Women within other cultures have also become more accepting with women becoming breadwinners within their household and have also got rid of social stigmas that have overshadowed the gender of women in general. While many spectators have focused on the women in Islam due to social stigmas and stereotypes, it’s important that outsiders also look within their own community before judging the role of women in Islam. Many of the misconceptions that we fixate on the Muslim culture are actually relevant within other mainstream cultures as well.
