Does Islam really subjugate women?

[missvick126]

Came across this article suggesting that Islam does not subjugate women nearly as much as mainstream Western media makes it seem. What does everybody think of this?

*Edit*

Vick

[Eliot Wild]

Can't access the link . . . is there anyway you could summerize the article or re-post it?

[angellous_evangellous]

Does Islam really subjugate women?

Yep. And one needs no link to detemine that.

[kai]

heres that link;

Does Islam Really Subjugate Women? | Women and Power | Big Think

[Eliot Wild]

I too am curious about people's thoughts on Islam and it's religious perspective on human rights, women's rights included. I will say I have noticed that there are quite a few Muslim women who frequent RF that routinely defend Islam's treatment of women.

I have never lived in an Islamic country and have had very little exposure to the 'Muslim' way of life. From the outside looking in, I have to say it appears that Muslim women are somewhat subjugated, at least more so than men.

It seems to me that most religions 'subjugate' their followers. I wanted to be sure of my position, so I checked out the definition of the word. To 'subjugate means to bring under control and treat as 'subjects'. Therefore, by that definition, even Muslim men could be said to be subjugated. Islam seems to have strict rules of behavior to which both men and women must adhere. However, to an outsider like myself, it seems that Muslim men do not suffer the same depths of subjugation as women.

But I realize my perspective is impacted and affected by non-Islamic filters, things such as Western media and my own individual perspective of what is right and wrong.

It didn't seem to me that the article was defending Islam though. As a matter of fact, it outright stated that in this day and age Muhammad would be viewed by most of the world as a perverted child molester. Furthermore, the underlying theme of the article seemed to be that a Muslim's view of women is solely based on individual interpretations of the koran.

Cole admits that the Koran can be interpreted to promote misogyny, as it is by the Taliban, "but the essence of Islam is the highest respect for women," she says. Fundamentalist interpretations of the Koran are the enemy, not the Koran itself.

The woman quoted in the excerpt above is Sonia Nassary Cole, an Afgan filmmaker who believes the koran can be interpreted either way, apparently. She says Islamic teachings can be interprted either to unduly subjugate women or to grant them social and legal equality with men. She further said that fundamental extremist groups, like the Taliban, have been oppressive in their treatment of women. But she said her mother and father found equal footing by adhering to Islamic laws.

So, in summation, I didn't find the article to be unduly harsh or generously sympathetic to Islam regarding this particular subject. But, personally, as an outsider who knows very little about Islamic teachings and way of life, I must admit it appears to me that Islam does treate women unfairly and unequittably for the most part, and it appears to this outsider that Islam does indeed unduly subjugate women.

[.lava]

Originally Posted by angellous_evangellous

Does Islam really subjugate women?

Yep. And one needs no link to detemine that.

so .. do you mean Islam does not subjugate men? if someone says Islam subjugate women that refers to "Islam bring rules into lives of women alone." am i right?

.

[Meow Mix]

Originally Posted by missvick126

Came across this article suggesting that Islam does not subjugate women nearly as much as mainstream Western media makes it seem. What does everybody think of this?

bigthink[dot com]/ideas/24620

Vick

No, jerks subjugate women.

Islam as far as I've seen doesn't require the subjugation of women any more than Christianity does.

Sure, I've seen verses in each one's holy text that are pretty mysoginist, but I haven't seen any mysoginy in our Muslim friends on RF -- have you? I haven't seen any mysoginy from our Christian friends either. (I have, though, seen one thread in the scriptural debates forum where a Christian is advocating women being silent in church or whatever, but I don't know that person or if they're being serious).

I guess I'm just saying that it's safe to say that SOME Muslims subjugate women, just like SOME Christians and SOME Buddhists and SOME atheists subjugate women. This is less about religion and more about some people are *********** regardless of what they believe in.

[Revoltingest]

Subjugation of women isn't really commanded by any religion I know of.
It's just a good idea for obvious secular reasons. Of course, it's made
difficult by their being so uppity (& cold) these days.

[Meow Mix]

Originally Posted by Revoltingest

Subjugation of women isn't really commanded by any religion I know of.
It's just a good idea for obvious secular reasons. Of course, it's made
difficult by their being so uppity (& cold) these days.

Why I oughtta...

[Revoltingest]

Originally Posted by Meow Mix

Why I oughtta...

A revolting ode to uppity women who know their 3 Stooges lines

Your post is a typical case
of girlies not knowing their place.
Though my words were sage
you fly into rage,
and I get a fish in the face.