Why peoples say that muslim women are oppressed?

Question

i have been read many times from western peoples that muslim or asain women are oppressed although they themselves are happy in the role they are doing according to their culture and religon...why these peoples are worry about them ..are they not happy their way of lives and want them to live a life like themselves...they want them to live with men without proper relation and change their BF after one year ..they want them to go to pub and drink..they want them to leave house and adopt the rule of men..i belive men and women are equal but different .you cannot say that women should do everything wihich men do to get equality...a men can walk without t shirt and no body will notice but if women do so every body will look at her because of her different sexulaity...women are adopting men roles in west and men are struggling to adjust with it..why women lack compromise in west..is it not because of freedum and being independent and you get freedum at some cost
WAITING URS USEFUL REPLIE

Answer 1

Women who are born and raised in societies where they are oppressed (by Western standards) cannot be but happy in the majority of the cases because that's the only way of life they know.

I once had a very interesting conversation with a Muslim woman and she was happy in general, she was not exposed to a fundamentalist, extremist kind of Islamism, which is the negative image of Islamism so prevalent in the media. I asked her why she covered her hair and she said that a woman's hair was a temptation to man, therefore she covered it. By western standards she should not have to hide her hair at all because men are too weak to resist temptation.

Both you and I have different ways of thinking, we were brought up in different cultures, we can both make allowances for cultural differences, even if we disagree.

The negative image of western women is promoted by the American way of life, their series and movies. Not all women in the western hemisphere live that way or think that way. Women have been overexploited for marketing and commercial purposes since a long time ago, a bad habit that continues to date, and which includes men as well. Women who work are considered to be better prepared, are more committed and honest, put in longer hours and do their job better than most men. Of course women in many countries do not get paid equally for doing the same job, women are paid 30% less than men. In addition they have to handle the kids and the house, so we put in more work hours than any man per week. We do not want to do everything a man does, but segregating things by gender just does not fit into the pattern of western standards anymore. We have things that men don't and vice versa, we are not competing against men. Men find that hard to understand. Women are proud of being women, we no longer feel guilty, or feel that we deserve to be punished for being women. Of course some take it to the limit, but the vast majority is not a reflection of the series and movies you see about us.

As to compromise, well...there seems to be a lack of compromise everywhere, not just with women, but I can tell you that women are compromised with their kids and family, they seek to improve their little piece of ground in any way then can. Women deal with many little domestic affairs men don't want to bother with.

By the way, I'm not America, I'm Mexican and our culture still has a problem with women in general, the machismo is a negative male attitude encouraged by the Catholic Church and cultural aspects that has demeaned, dominated, subjugated and humilliated women in this country for a long time. That is also changing. Most women run houses and families by themselves because the man usually runs away after fathering children. Women are proving to be better students, good workers, responsible members of society. Machismo is dying out and women are taking charge of their lives. I do not think that is bad. Of course there are bad examples everywhere and we also see young women acting like men at their worst. I do not agree with that.

Hope this helps. Lack of understanding among cultures is what creates problems among nations. Ignorance about cultures also plays an important part. I respect diversity and tolerance and fail to understand why only the negative aspects of a culture or nation are the only ones that get attention by the media.

There are good people and bad people everywhere. And I am not a feminist. You posted a question in an open forum and I gave you an honest opinion. Thank you for your question, it was very interesting.

Answer 2

Why do people say anything about others?

It is easier to judge than to be judged.

I have seen my share of oppressed women (some men too) in several countries. And the oppressor is usually a confused, hurt, and fearful man, one who uses religion, family, strength and woman's emotions to control and intimidate.

The particular view of Muslim Women comes from media pictures of extreme interpretations of leaders who use the Qua-ran or Koran to oppress women. The same happens in other religions. Those women who honestly campaign against their own Muslim oppression, point out that the leaders are misinterpreting and spreading false doctrine. This doctrine feeds the men's need to protect and restrict women, particularly in the area of men's perceptions of sexuality as a temptation and a desire.

The west's paradox is that we are free to express without understanding that expression has consequence. I am free to view pornography, but should I? The west has a lot, but that does not mean that the rest of the world is unhappy. (Sometimes I think we are the most unhappy and seek the wrong things)

The Muslim faith will probably evolve a clear consensus of gender roles after understanding that some of the west's influences are 'bad,' but are not to be feared, blamed or fought. When a reformation leads to a consensus of Imam's that it is not a fight of nations, but of the people in themselves with their place in a material world.

Answer 3

See u dont understand the meaning of oppressed. we're not talking about physically oppressed but mentally. The mentality of most males who practice muslim religion is like urs. The women here in the west have choices to do different things if they feel like it. dont u think that when u say the women in the east are happy the way they are proves my point that men think that they are happy which is not the case. we are not saying that they should go to the pub and drink but if they feel like it then they should have the choice to do so. look, there are always going to be differences between east and west but remember the "freedom" is the greatest gift that u can give to a human being. Thats just my opinion

Answer 4

I think it's mainly because there not a "Muslim" or "asian" woman. It really depends on point of view. Since western people are way more secular and express freedom to their own comfort they feel as if since Muslim or asian women don't want to be like them and drink, or go out with a guy, or walk out half naked then there not living a good life. People make assumpstions all the time and I do feel as if it's wrong. People may not think that its a bad thing but they'd be suprised to know how many people do care.

Answer 5

That is the only area in which Islam has it correct. Women continue to underestimate the male sex drive in the western world. The greatest temptation for a man is sexuality. Woman in the west dress like whores and teenage girls are brainwashed into wearing skimpy clothes and tight fitting outfits by the culture. Muslim woman cover up and it is (for a man) like opening a wrapped gift which makes for real good sex. Woman also end up feeling less like objects, that in this society they continue to promote themselves as. We are sex saturated, they have found the balance to present the roles of each gender wisely. There is very little else I agree with Islam on.

Answer 6

Hey Raja Asim,

It is based on what we hear. We do not know, but we see you have to wear certain clothes, and men are superior in your culture. If men are superior, then women are oppressed. Does a Muslim woman's opinion matter in Muslim countries, as much as a man's? These are the stories we hear.

Our culture is just different, and maybe Muslim women are OK with what they wear, and their place in Muslim society. Not my place to judge.

Answer 7

They just look oppressed and depressed. Can't see them smiling through the vail. Are your women covered because you can't control yourselves and your desires?

Answer 8

because some others dont know nothing about muslims....or catholics, or protestants etc....we have to meet each other and understand we live together wheter our religion is