Stereotyped Muslim Women

Stereotyped Muslim Women

Introduction

The paper discusses the stereotypes against the Muslim women especially regarding their clothing, attire and rights. In the western world, Islam is not a majority populous religion. Therefore, Muslim women face various problems as being a part of religious minority. Despite various differences in what is percept and what is reality, the Muslim women are forced into the stereotypes of the western world. The media also plays its part by focusing on the honor crimes against the Muslim women. The main issues related to the Muslim women are the headscarf, their clothing and their veil. The religion Islam is generally considered as a religion of oppression fro Muslim women. A Gallup Poll taken from American women in 2005 resulted in the majority answer of 'gender inequality' where the question was 'what do they admire least about the Islamic world?' (Munro, 2011).

The dress of Muslim women is an area that has attracted significant interest from Western audiences. Veiling takes a variety of often region-specific forms, and can involve concealing some combination of hair, face, or entire body. Veiling is required by law in some Muslim countries-for instance, Iran and Saudi Arabia-yet more controversy surrounds women who choose to veil in countries-Muslim majority or otherwise-where it is not a legal requirement. Some argue that these women are forced to veil by society or their families, and that the veil is therefore a symbol of the oppression of women within Islam (Khatib, 2012).

Teachings of Islam

A seminar by Laila Ahmed in 1992 titled Women and Gender in Islam. She argued that the Muslim women facing particular traditions in Middle East is due to their traditional, conventional interpretations of Islam rather the religion itself. She maintained that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) gave two directions in Islam overall. One is the ethical structure encompassing all human beings in moral and spiritual equality. Another is the gender based hierarchical structure. Generally, the perception of Muslim women comprise of veiled victim, a sign of male oppression, uneducated foreigner or a slogan-shouting terrorist. Unless and until the Muslims women speak for themselves and get socialized, these perceptions and stereotypes do not change (Nouraie-Simone, 2005).

Islam views women as equivalent to men according to its Holy Book, Quran and sayings of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Women and men are described as equal as friends and partners in faith in the Islamic scriptures. The teachings of Islam forbid violence against women. Women must not be harmed by any way and means of abuse of power. The preaching of Islam also forbids men to hold any bad feeling against any Muslim woman. It is taught that even if a man dislikes one quality of Muslim woman, he would find other pleasing qualities to like her. It is also the one of the sayings of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) that the best of believer is one who is best to his wives and families (Carland, 2012).

Spread of Islam among Women

The Muslim women's lives and views can be ...