In Kecia Ali’S Book “Sexual Ethics And Islam” We Are Given

Historically, “Women and Gender in Islam” discusses the social, political, legal, and religious discourses and structures that have shaped the experience of Muslim women

Aisha bint Abu Bakr was a leader, a woman, a wife, a theologian, a scholar and a political activist. She was precocious, loyal, brave and remarkably intelligent. These aspects of her humble life have allowed her to make a powerful impact on the development and expression of Islam that “no woman [has] reached”[1]. Not only did she influence the position of women in Islamic society, Islamic ethics, and the understanding and interpretation of the Qur’an, but she also modelled these qualities for the men, women and children of Islam.

Islam, a religion of people submitting to one God, seeking peace and a way of life without sin, is always misunderstood throughout the world. What some consider act of bigotry, others believe it to be the lack of education and wrong portrayal of events in media; however, one cannot not justify the so little knowledge that America and Americans have about Islam and Muslims. Historically there are have been myths, many attacks on Islam and much confusion between Islam as a religion and Middle Easter culture that is always associated with it. This paper is meant to dispel, or rather educate about the big issues that plague people’s minds with false ideas and this will only be touching the surface.

Yet inequalities may not be the case for women in more westernized nations as they receive greater freedom (60). This is where the great diversity between modernist Muslim’s and conservative Muslim’s come in. Modernist Muslims argue genuine Islam is compatible with modern west society and political ideas such as democracy and the equality of women. The views of women in society are supported by revelations of the prophet Mohammed. On the other hand we have conservative Muslims where they believe in

The Koran is a book following the religion of the Muslim people. In it, many aspects of their ways of life and their attitudes towards different people are addressed. It mentions the strong feelings of the true believers towards Jews and Christians, however it gives a view of women that is taken two ways. A major part of their religion is the way women should be treated. This idea is a controversial topic as seen from a person that is not a true believer, or a Muslim. Conventional thinking brought out by the media have led non-Muslim people to perceive the treatment of women as suppressive. The Koran shows the reader both sides of the coin, and therefore, the reader must form an opinion of the

“Women like Mohammed find themselves at the head of once-separate spheres:work and household.” Source D (Rampell).

Brooks uses the sources to bring the thesis together and to help get her point across about the oppression of Islamic women and the pride and power of their male figures. An Islamic law states that women are not to commit adultery, but their husband can have more than one wife. When Brooks learned the story of Rehab and Mohamed and how Mohamed left Rehab for Fatima, it really opened her eyes on how different the treatment of married women of the Islamic world.

Eteraz’s perception is that segments of the U.S. population view Islam with content. This is because of the events of 911 which a few radicalistic can change the view of a whole race but this radicalism also made him question Islam. Eteraz’s experiences and views of women and the struggles he has with his sexuality and religious convictions are very interesting. Eteraz describes having his first sexual experience at the young age of seven years old when a Pakistani girl named Sina exposes herself to him. After being chastised by his mother for his sinful behavior, the experience of this sexual encounter will serve as a basis of how he will treat women merely as sexual objects, especially Muslim women.

Moreover, “the Mullahs tell of a different world of Islam.” In general, they state that “all men are superior to all women and therefore women cannot be regarded as equal to men.” The Mullahs even go as far to saying that “a Muslim man has the right to divorce his wife at will, the right to take second, third and fourth wives, the right to demand obedience and the right to beat his wife if he thinks she is misbehaving.” The worst part about these claims is that Anwar says “they say I cannot question these rules as they are God’s law.” As a Muslim woman, Anwar feels a tremendous needs to break this stigma associated with Islam and redefine these misconceptions. In fact, she believes her aim is solely to be able to once again “be a modern person person who leads a joyous and meaningful life inside and outside the home.” In order to accomplish this, she wants to allow women to feel a sense of quality to men and allow all the other women facing a similar battle to be able to continue through life with more freedom as well as a sense of dignity and

In today’s society women are given ample opportunity just as much as men. In some countries, such as middle-eastern nations that is not the case. Muslim women are often perceived to be submissive to Muslim men and unequal. Mohammed never taught for women to be treated as lower class citizens. Nonetheless, the blame is pointed towards the religion of Islam. The Islamic religion began as all monotheist religions representing a belief in one God and moral standards. In the following essay I will discuss and elaborate what Mohammed taught, how women lived in early Islamic society, and what it has become.

Islam has more recently become a very hot topic. There are many assumptions and misconceptions about the religion itself. Due to all of these misconceptions, many Muslims are being discussed about worldwide based off of faulty information. One misunderstanding that seems to be constantly consuming conversations everywhere is the so-called oppression of Muslim women. Many individuals believe that Muslim women are maltreated, and submissive; however, this is quite untrue. Sexuality in Muslim Contexts Restrictions and Resistance, by Anissa Helie and Homa Hoodfar delves into the truth about multiple misconceptions dealing with sexualtiy in Muslim majority, and minority countries.

Islam - A Highly Controversial Sensitive Issue in Today's World: Examination of Misconceptions and Beliefs

FGM originated in Africa. It was, and remains, a cultural, not a religious practice. Female genital mutilation (FGM) is also known as female circumcision is performed on young women before they reach puberty. There are three types of FGM practiced. One is Sunna circumcision in which the tip of the clitoris and/or its covering (prepuce) are removed, Clitoridectomy where the entire clitoris, the prepuce and adjacent labia are removed, and Infibulation (a.k.a. Pharaonic circumcision) which is a clitoridectomy followed by sewing up of the vulva. Only a small opening is left to allow urine and menstrual blood to pass. In all types of FGM, the vagina is sown up until the female is ready to have sexual intercourse

This is a significant aspect of the course because the article examines the strengths and weaknesses of femininity through a cultural Muslim perspective and the reading is a prime example of how ideologies regarding race affect those involved. In class we have discussed the significances of social constructs and how assumptions are made on the basis of physical characteristics. In this situation, identity is related to gender as Muslim women are categorized as both good/respectful and rebellious/evil individuals because they are apart of a culture where they are both oppressed and liberated simultaneously.

Our religion and where we are raised is a major ingredient to formulating our identity. It is also why one person may perceive, as ‘kissing in public’ to being extremely wrong, where as one may not even notice it. Within the Iranian and Middle-Eastern culture, numerous perceive situations through the rights and wrongs of the Holy Quran. Research also claims that many of the passages within the Holy Quran “…are meant for human perception and comprehension…” (Berrada 45). This statement illustrates that our