Big Think

Omar Sapayeen on January 16, 2008, 6:32 PM

In one extreme, you have the underwearless Britney Spears and Paris Hiltons, on the other the oppressed Burqa wearing women under Taliban Afghanistan. And then there's the wide middle ground. It is as wrong to suggest all Muslim women are oppressed women bound to servitude under their men, as it would be to say Paris Hilton reflects characteristics common to all American women.

I grew up in an Islamic school. The girls of my school were proud, they were intelligent, and they were ambitious. Of my classmate, two are doctors, others have gone into business and graduated from the best universities. Most of them wear the traditional head-covering and still follow Islamic values. Nothing they have done or achieved makes them feel guilty of somehow betraying Islamic ideals. They find Islam liberating, they feel that the 'restrictions' Islam places on them were only meant to protect them from being exploited in societies where exploitation was the norm.

Yes, there are those who have manipulated the religion to rationalize oppressing and subjugating women in religion's name. This is something that needs to be addressed, and dealt with by Muslims, just as every community and nation that still retains chauvinistic attitudes needs to address their situation and improve.

Omar Sapayeen on January 16, 2008, 11:32 PM

In one extreme, you have the underwearless Britney Spears and Paris Hiltons, on the other the oppressed Burqa wearing women under Taliban Afghanistan. And then there’s the wide middle ground. It is as wrong to suggest all Muslim women are oppressed women bound to servitude under their men, as it would be to say Paris Hilton reflects characteristics common to all American women.

I grew up in an Islamic school. The girls of my school were proud, they were intelligent, and they were ambitious. Of my classmate, two are doctors, others have gone into business and graduated from the best universities. Most of them wear the traditional head-covering and still follow Islamic values. Nothing they have done or achieved makes them feel guilty of somehow betraying Islamic ideals. They find Islam liberating, they feel that the ‘restrictions’ Islam places on them were only meant to protect them from being exploited in societies where exploitation was the norm.

Yes, there are those who have manipulated the religion to rationalize oppressing and subjugating women in religion’s name. This is something that needs to be addressed, and dealt with by Muslims, just as every community and nation that still retains chauvinistic attitudes needs to address their situation and improve.

Alex Boates on January 20, 2008, 12:27 PM

How can women in a Muslim dominated countries fight for their rights outside of their religion and still be successful?

Alex Boates on January 20, 2008, 5:27 PM

How can women in a Muslim dominated countries fight for their rights outside of their religion and still be successful?