Why do many people think that Islam opresses women?

Question

Please, if you think the statement is true, give me your reasons. Remember, I said Islam, not Iran, not Saudi Arabia, not Arabic or South Asian culture, just Islam.

forsaken: Islam has dress codes for BOTH men and women. Women are not treated as slaves, they are entitled to inheritance, rights to work and receive education, divorce. The punishments for fornication are both for women and men. NOT FOR WOMEN ONLY. Indonesia is the largest Muslim nation, not Iran or Saudi Arabia.

annysweet: Islam has dress codes for BOTH men and women. It's to prevent fornication and lewd acts. The stonings and whippings are enforced both on MEN AND WOMEN. There are other interpretations on the wife beating. No, Islam does not allow husbands to beat their wives just because they refused to do everything they are told. Husbands are supposed to treat their wives kindly and be "the protectors" of women.

Panda: That aint true. Women are not treated as slaves, they are entitled to inheritance, rights to work and receive education, divorce. Women don't have to cover "every inch of their body". Only parts that are supposed to be covered. The punishments for fornication/adultery are for both WOMEN AND MEN.

Chazerai: That's not an Islamic practice.

Answer 1

Good question. I am surprised by the majority of the answers posted to your question, but then again not that surprised because I have seen some of the Islamic websites and their contents. It is no wonder that this is reaction you are getting for your question.

Many of these websites are hosted / prepared by Jews & Christians who oppose Islam - mostly for political and not
religious reasons.

How many of those who answered this question know the Islamic religion from a Muslim? How many have dealt with Muslim females? What are these answers based upon?

The statement is definitely not true and against all teaching of the Islamic religion and of the Prophet Mohamed.

Islam has given women many rights not granted to then in other societies. The Muslim woman goes by her maiden name and not by her husband's, she also has a separate financial identity separate from their husbands and the list goes on.

Many Muslim women work, drive, vote etc.

Is it the dress code? What's wrong with that? If women of other countries choose to bare themselves, what is wrong with women who choose not to? Nuns have the same dress code as Muslim women, long apparel and a head covering - does that mean nuns are oppressed. No, they have a way of life that is and should be respected, like wise that of the Muslim woman.

Islam forbade white slavery and gave respect and dignity to women. Why should that bother anyone?

The relationship between a husband and wife is very well described in the Qura’n, which bases this relationship on mercy, respect, harmony, support, advice, protection, peace and responsibility on both sides. Why is all this left out and the focus is on the "beating" which is not the main or the focus on the relationship or the essence of the religion. The Prophet Mohamed who is the example for all Muslims never beat a wife.

Both men & women are forbidden to have premarital sex, like wise the teachings of all religions. Why is that? This is save the dignity and rights of both the woman and the child and to make the man responsible for both. How many children are born out of marriage and what is the suffering faced by the mother and how many abortions are conducted and what are the risks faced by the woman having the abortion?
How many paternity tests are conducted to know who the real father of the child is in other societies where women may freely engage in premarital sex? Islam protects the woman from all these. Do you truly think this is oppression?

Would you consider preists are nuns who lead a life of celibacy oppressed? Of course not. It's their way life according to the teaching of their religion.

My response is not meant for you haterhater. My response is really to support you.

MO MOSH: From where did you get this ? Do you speak, read or even understand the Arabic language? Apparently not - both Hadith and Qura'n do not say any of this blasphemy. What is your source for God's sake? I can directly state this source is definitely incorrect - have checked it with anyone or even aginst a reliable source or is this your own translation?

Answer 2

to the person who said they cut clitoris, that is a sin to do that, and only some tribes do this, although its not permitted in Islam.
It has nothing to do with the religion, its just something that culture did and continuous doing now.

Dressing in a modest way does not oppress women, its just a way of protecting them from the harms of society. Women in western societies dont like when a man approaches them and starts flirting or saying bad comments about her body although he shouldn't, and we complain. All of this could have been avoided if they had a more modest way of dressing.

Islam does not oppress women, it gives them the same rights as men. Women and men are to be dressed in a modest manner, lower their gaze.

Answer 3

I do not believe Islam opresses women. Islam contains rules on religious acts, along with those such as dress codes and diet rules for men and women. Often dress codes are variable in different countries, for example, an eastern muslim may wish to wear a burkha or hijab, but a western Muslim may wish to wear western style clothing. The rules are sometimes seen not to opress, but to liberate and protect women.

Answer 4

Rules preventing women from deciding their own fate, occupation, or role in society, not to mention statute preventing them from running in elections. Quranic law stating that the punishment for crimes, so ludicrously serious as not covering every inch of your body or committing adultery, is stoning to death for women but not men. Those might be a couple of the reasons...at a guess.

Answer 5

I get the idea that it does but I know very little about the religion. It may just be that Americans have been led to believe that in order to demonize Islam. I also believe, however, that in it's pure form Islam is a very peaceful religion very close to Christianity in ideology and history.

Answer 6

hey if islam considers men and women equal why there are strict dress codes for women not men I think women are poorly treated in most of the non developed countries where we cant blame islam.
But look its time that women in islamic world should be given more freedom in every sphere .

Answer 7

They are forced to hide their bodies from the world and live as slaves to their masters. Not to mention the stonings. And FYI all the places you mentioned are practically the WHOLE world of Islam so I don't see where you're trying to go with that?

Answer 8

well i guess i have answered b4 your questions about islam, but i will write thi, islam yes oppresses women, yes christianity oppressed women but that was soooo many centuries ago, not now, for example why do you feel that by seeing a woman's head you will sin, cant she dress the way she wants? eg.... i saw these muslim men who were stoning and whipping this gal coz she had sex with her boyfriend b4 the got married, ??? why her??/ and not the boy?? they say the woman is the one who leads a man to sin, that is not true, your religion gives a man a right to hit, beat his wife if she doent obey him, ... why??

Answer 9

I believe that Islam is the best religion considering women rights.

Answer 10

Islam on women....

"Allah said, 'It is My obligation to make Eve bleed once every month as she made this tree bleed. I must also make Eve stupid, although I created her intelligent.' Because Allah afflicted Eve, all of the women of this world menstruate and are stupid." (Tabari I:280)

"Prophet! Tell your wives and daughters and all Muslim women to draw cloaks and veils all over their bodies (screening themselves completely except for one or two eyes to see the way). That will be better." (Qur'an 33:59)

"If any of your women are guilty of lewdness, take the evidence of four witnesses from amongst you against them; if they testify, confine them to houses until death [by starvation] claims them." (Qur'an 4:15)

"Allah permits you to shut them in separate rooms and to beat them, but not severely. If they abstain, they have the right to food and clothing. Treat women well for they are like domestic animals and they possess nothing themselves. Allah has made the enjoyment of their bodies lawful in his Qur'an." (Tabari IX:113)

...and so on and so on throughout the Qur'an and Hadith...