What is the daily life of a Muslim women living in America verses one that is not?

Answer 1

depends I guess. Me when I lived back in Pakistan
school
chores
HW

in USA
school
work
chores
HW

Answer 2

Not living in America or not Muslim?

Answer 3

American Muslims are moderates, whilst 'over there' strict adherence to Islam's dogma is demanded and required. Except for countries such as Lebanon and Turkey where where it's also moderate. A country such as Saudi Arabia is where it is also very strict.

I didn't answer your question, but oh well...

Answer 4

I am not a Muslim and I dont even know any Muslims but I have to believe that their lives are not much different than mine. I clean my home, make meals, spend time with family, occasionally shop. I mean how much different can it be?

Answer 5

I am an American Muslim woman living in America who accepted Islam at the age of 19 (15 years ago). I also lived in Egypt for 4 1/2 years and have visited Saudi Arabia twice. I would say that my life was similar in Egypt to what it is here. The average Muslim woman's life, no matter what country she is in, is devoted to being a righteous person and doing her best to raise her children to be ethical adults.

I would say that it is easier in many ways to be a Muslim in America. In Egypt, as elsewhere in the Muslim world, non-Islamic cultural influences make it sometimes difficult to try to practice Islam according to its pure sources, the Quran and the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (which are not the same thing). In America, by contrast, "to each his own" generally rules the day. People are more willing to let you do your own thing without giving you slack and trying to convince you that their culturally-based ideas (as opposed to Scriptural) are the correct way to live.

There are certain standards that are expected to be upheld which affect women's lives such as requiring a large dowry from the man (this can take years for him to save). This means a girl commonly waits years after engagement to get married. Let me rephrase that. She is often "officially" married, but will not be allowed to be alone with her husband until he coughs up the cash and a full house of furniture! This dowry comes from an Islamic idea that a groom should give the bride a gift upon marriage to show his goodwill. It has descended into a "bragging rights " contest in many cases. It is one example of how Islam gets twisted and mutilated by traditional culture.

In America, the Muslim community is more aware of authentic Islam. They have come to a society that they know is not Islamic, and often begin searching Islam out for the first time. Back home people tend to go with the cultural flow. In addition, about 1/4 of Muslims in America are "reverts", meaning they came back to the way they were created by God and are practicing Islam for the first time. Since they do not live in a Muslim society, they are forced to look to the true teachings for their guidance.

It also easier to find a community of like-minded people here in America. In Egypt, the mosques are carefully controlled by the government. One cannot simply meet for any purpose one wishes in the mosques. They open for prayers and then close immediately afterwards. God forbid the believers might develop meaningful relationships with one another! In America, by contrast, the mosque is a community center with activities for all, and thus a place to build friendships. I found this to be the main difference. Women's relationships in Eygpt are built around relatives and neighbors. American Muslims' relationships are built around the mosque.

I didn't find a huge power differential in Egypt. Perhaps that is what your question was alluding to. Egyptian women, in particular, are quite bold with their husbands. And generally, they are accepted throughout the workforce and all educational strata.

In Saudi Arabia, however, life is not so free as it is in Egypt. It is not considered normal for a woman to walk alone in the street, nor can she drive a car or take a microbus. Thus, her daily needs are most easily met by leaving all of the outside activities to her husband, which can be a good thing, but only at times! If she can afford a driver, then it's not such a problem, I suppose. But here again, we get back to a freakish twisting of Islam. The Saudis don't want women to drive ostensibly to protect them from men, but on the other hand are willing to have them drive around alone with a non-relative driver! Go figure!

Although education has opened up quite a bit, women may still not enter certain fields. They are culturally not expected to work outside the home, and most don't. Although, many of them engage in trade, they must do it in ways in which they don't interact freely with men. To name one crazy example, a woman may own a lingerie boutique, but she may not work inside, with the presumably mostly female clientele. These veiled shoppers are forced to give their bra and panty sizes to a male clerk. This in the name of protecting the society's decency! Women are not allowed to work in stores unless they are female-only. Therefore, their lives are much more circumscribed.

There is something very cozy about having all of your needs met by men. The problem occurs when there isn't one available to do the meeting, which I must say, isn't too often. Saudis have large families and there is generally some male around to do your bidding. The question is: why should he have to?

Answer 6

The Muslim chicks in Muslim countries get beat just for breathing funny or showing an ankle on an off day. Laws of the west protect the Muslim chick from such barbarity in public, though she doesn't deserve the protection of our laws. What goes on in private may be just as bad or worse as what her sisters in Saudi get.

Answer 7

there are happy but some of still live like where they come from but there are happy here

Answer 8

Shopping..... Shopping..... and More... Shopping!

Thanks, RR

Answer 9

depends on how religious she is..................