With respect, Is Islam sexist?

Question

Why are Islamic women made to cover up, made to walk behind the husband and made to feel second rate to men within most Islamic countries. I have seen this with my own eyes and too suffered this whilst I lived in the Middle-East, so I know what I am asking, however I would like to get your side of the story. Please feel free to sound off, I will not be offended, but bare in mind others may be more sensitive, respect their feelings.

Answer 1

because they need to update their "blow-ourselves-up" religion. i wanna dress like a skank, go over to the Middle East and strut my stuff around the town and see what happens.

Answer 2

Women in america & way before america existed covered themselves modestly not to show arms .head or legs look at the attire of those on the cowboy movies they dress properly so did all Christians from the onset and prior to religion All over the world this was common for woman. this alleviates many many thing from happening.
rapes, flirting ,woman being cheapened, wives respecting the children and family friends and so forth. sexist no protected very much so. basically not being a looked upon for easy pickings.

Answer 3

I wish I could invite you to my country which is in Europe, maybe you'd be shocked at how well Muslim women are treated. What you saw is culture, something educated Muslims are trying sooooo hard to fight against. But it ain't gonna be easy. You know, culture is so deeply rooted in Middle East, I sometimes wonder if it will ever be possible to let go of it and embrace real Islam. Did you know that in Qur'an words 'man' and 'woman' are mentioned exactly the same number of times? It's something scholars have found out while working on a mathematical pattern in Qur'an. See how smart God is? Even by those little things He lets us know that we're equal - fair equals. Now, there is something in Islam which confuses many people, hence their opinion that women are inferior to men. Islam gives roles to both man and woman. Man is the breadwinner, woman is the one who keeps the family together. But that doesn't mean that she MUST spend her life as a housewife all her life. For example, I work - not because I need to because my husband provides for me and family, but simply because I want to. Plus according to Islam, I get to keep all my income, while he has to share his with mine. How fair towards men is that, right? Islam liberated me as a woman. It gave me an option of divorce when such thing was considered as blasphemy, it gave me a fair share in case I inherit something. I will comment on a verse someone posted here with a purpose to bash Islam: the one which says that woman gets only half inhertance her brother (for example) gets. It may sound nasty but in fact it's very logical. Bearing in mind that Islam gave both genders roles, we have to take into consideration that I as a woman will get married and therefore will be provided for by my husband. These things are taken for granted in Islam. On the other hand we have my brother who will marry and will have to provide for his wife, hence the bigger share for him. As simple as that. As for dress code, I choose to wear hijab because I respect myself. I don't want to be seen as flesh, but as a soul. By the way, I don't think I could ever live in Middle East for the same reasons you mentioned here. They're not practising Islam properly.

Have a nice day :)

Answer 4

What you saw was culture and not religion. Islam, when practiced properly, gives women many rights. It's the people who practice Islam their own way who cause the sexism and poor treatment of women. My husband is Muslim and I am not forced to cover or walk behind him, and he knows that I am his equal.

Answer 5

i always considered them as sexiest, too. woman also have to enter in another door into the Masjid, not to mention the marriage rules. well I'm more than satisfied with Christianity. and dressing up a certain way is more of a choice in America and the guys do it too.i don't know about walking, though. peace and God bless.
~sharisse~

Answer 6

maybe it is. but I am a guy. and personally I think women are horrible drivers, so Saudi got that part right.
and no sex before marriage, especially for young women?

I mean, this is a religion where a young man can rape an infidel, and gosh dang it, she can be stoned to death.
sounds like this was packaged for guys. well, except for the burqa thing. oh, and I sort of like it that women in Christianity are actually educated, and can drive cars.
amazing concepts huh. but who am I to say that Islam is sexist.

Answer 7

Islam is not sexist.....middle east is. Women are not told to cover up completely they are just told to dress modestly as are men. And both are told to lower their gaze. Women are not told to walk behind their husbands! And not all islamic cultures are sexist. My parents are from Pakistan but its my dad who fears my mother and not the other way around :D

Men and women are equal in islam. The Prophet (pbuh) said that women are the twin halves of men.

AJ please dont make me do this again
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AsfnvXXh3IYKQFsCjoRV8Pbsy6IX?qid=20070411124451AAnAmsr


Fields r: Saudi arabia does not represent all of islam. Not letting women drive is idiotic. And women are not only allowed to be educated, they are supposed to be educated. Rape is not allowed in any circumstances. You are not stoned for getting raped. Even if you commit adultery, the punishment is getting lashes but not death. It is the rapist who is stoned to death. Please do not spread false information about islam.

Answer 8

Unfortunately most of the "civilised" world is sexist.Do women get the same wage as men for doing the same job?
If a woman makes it to the top,how many people think she slept her way there.
It's not right but it's the way of the world.

Answer 9

I have enver lived in the Middle East, but I have a muslim friend who feels that the need to cover up is to remain modest and not for oppression.

Answer 10

In Arabia, say you think women are forced to wear Hijab? So be it, what about the other 80%? Are they forced to wear it? What about in Canada? Half of my neighborhood are Muslims I see every Muslim woman wearing her Hijab proud. So tell me are they oppressed?

Answer 11

I think it is, but only because it's not apart of my culture.

But Christianity is sexist too; in Catholicism, women aren't allowed to participate in church (preaching, etc.) Also, technically we're supposed to cover our hair in church because in the Bible it says it's not allowed to show. But that rule kinda died out.