Gender equality is based on whims and fancies of various groups who want to advance own limited spheres of influence, idea and thought to gain more power, exposure or control. Several concepts and arguments have been presented, stating that men and women are free to develop abilities and choices without the limitations set by the society on gender roles. These concepts have very attractive names; rationalising their practical use by both men and women will advance the cause of women who are suffering at the hands of men. Some call them gender neutrality, gender equity, gender identities, gender binary and women’s rights. Then, there are those who move ahead with gender equity and concede complexity of the notion. Others provide a wider spectrum and state that gender equality has a wide area and make statements like, “gender policy is not one issue but many”.
Gender equality is the vision that men and women should be treated equally in social, economic and all other aspects of society, avoiding discrimination on the basis of gender. They define gender equality in terms of human rights, women’s rights and economic development. Some other fanciful and far-fetched ideas have also been developed including feminist movements within the framework of social movements. Their cry is to bring about gender equality at the global level that is strewn with fanciful ethical theories like utilitarianism, virtue ethics and feminine ethics.
By advocating use of action to bring greatest happiness to the greatest number of people, many suggest ways to sever bond between men and women, declaring that more independence to women would bring more happiness. In the area of virtue ethics as defined by some, women are supposed to be morally good and righteous, conduct with grace and remain chaste and virtuous. Although these are paragons of virtue, still want women to discard and reject limitations set by the society or men, meaning women should be more independent to whatever they wish to do. Their attitude is, “What’s wrong with that?”, advancing a theory that an action lies in usefulness.
In addition to this the flag of feminine ethics has also been raised inviting and expecting the society to affect or to accept behaviours in men or boys that are conventionally associated with women or girls.
Some of the advocates of gender equality set aside morality and moral attitude and continue to debate usefulness of equality trying to convince that it would bring greatest happiness to women. The problem statements, mostly based on opinions and proposed solution, made by those in support of usefulness are in favour of solutions always in the direction of greedy materialistic goals, exploiting and preying on the vulnerability of the women. Then they have the temerity and audacity to stating that it would make women more independent and happy.
Women are susceptible and defenceless. In olden days virgin girls were sacrificed to please gods. And now beautiful girls are being sacrificed on the altar of greed and exploitations by the proponents. In olden days the pagan superstitious rituals of throwing virgin girls in the river to appease it and make it flow were in full use. In addition to this, the offering of virgin girls as sacrifice to gods for the protection of the community continued for centuries. In some societies to ward off the evil spirits a virgin girl was left overnight in a temple, on the shores of a river, only to find her next morning violated and dead. Some other religions sacrificed young girls to the sun god on specially prepared altars that made the priests rich and the community happy. In other communities they were devadasis.
This ritual of offering human beings for sacrifices in one form or other has come to a stop. Yet, these same sacrifices are being carried out in a new benign form. Women are sacrificing their lives for the economic prosperity of the society, putting themselves on display to attract customers in clothes, shoes, and jewellery and fashion industries by showing their half-naked bodies while wearing those attractive and sellable items. In other words, women are sacrificing their lives, dignity and security, for the gods of greed and exploitation.
Men and women are different from each other and many of those differences come from biology. Some biological differences are commonly known and some are aren’t commonly known. The study of these biological differences by doctors has shown that men and women need different types of attention from drug doses to emotional support. The genetic difference is the reason for processing of everything from foods to medications at different rate. Fertility is one of the major differences between men and women. Men’s fertility lasts longer and men die more from almost every disease. Men are larger and stronger and exhibit aggression physically while women show aggression verbally. Women are vulnerable because of pregnancy and child birth; their survival is contingent on being part of a social group.
The other biological differences that aren’t commonly known are: men have larger veins; men are four times more likely to be autistic than women; males die more from almost every disease except breast cancer, female reproduction disorders, and benign tumours. Many other differences are of more interest to doctors and medical researchers. The above information clearly shows that the differences between men and women are biological as well as chemical driven.
This chaos and confusion brought on by gender equality proponents without giving regards to the physiological differences is one of the problems causing men women relationship disorder. In the name of progress and to give more freedom to women many proposed gender equality strategies are superficial and artificially set up or put in place to give more authority and control to agents of a system who are proposing this strategy in the first place.
Islam has given rights to both men and women. And whenever a Muslim man or a family does something appalling and horrific, the western world propagates that act and criticises Muslims and Islam severely, while ignoring the issues that exist in the West at a larger scale. There is always an attempt to impose its own policy of extending the influence, a form of imperialism and of reinforcing Western moral superiority.
A peek into the spiritual dimension of gender equality in Islam, based on biological demands, social needs, family unity, and preservation of humanity, would provide a picture of social justice. It will also correct the imbalance proposed by various so-called gender equality proponents. In other words, men and women have been given different capabilities, and they perform tasks based on those capabilities. Gender equality must be based on recognising the fact that men and women can perform similar tasks, not same tasks for the preservation of humanity. The man has the strength and muscle, and endurance that help him seek the provisions, food and necessities of life. The woman is equipped with what to take to reproduce the progeny of mankind. She is physically capable to bear children, deliver, nurse and care for them. Woman has been endowed with love, kindness, care, sympathy and affection and she takes care of the family with a smile on her face and with pride and dignity. Based on this natural preparation and delegation of authorities, man should work outside the house, and woman to work inside the house while taking care of the children and family needs. This is gender equality in Islam.
In Islam, oneness of God, God-consciousness and Taqwa are the highest ideals, and Muslims are encouraged to seek and follow them. By living according to the highest ideals of Islam, and by improving and keeping strong faith, a Muslim becomes more spiritual. This provides the Muslim with insights, uplifting inner experience that gives him or her ability to recognise and follow the prescribed path of doing good deeds and avoiding involvement in committing bad and sinful deeds. In getting the rewards for good deeds gender equality applies in Islam; men and women will be rewarded the same and there is no distinction; they are differentiated in Islam according to their faith, God-consciousness and good conduct.
Muslim women, like the Muslim men believe in Allah, Day of Judgement and Accountability, Books, Angels, and Prophets as prescribed in the Qur’ān. Women also perform prayers, pay Zakat (alms giving), fast in the month of Ramadhan and perform Pilgrimage. She also engages in doing the good and forbidding evil in addition to being responsible for the well-being of the family. A woman also has to study the Islamic teachings for her own personal guidance the same as the male. The woman has full financial status that is no less than that of the man.
Let us take an example by quoting Dr. (Mrs) Saba Taj from her article, “Triple Talaq or Crime against Women” (Radiance Viewsweekly, 14-20 May 2017) wherein she says , “ Islam has given many rights to women (Rights to get education, Equality of reward for their deeds, Right to own property, Right to marry and Right to obtain divorce).”
Yes, right to own property was given to women by Islam more than 1400 years ago, the economic empowerment which the world is discussing and debating now. In Western societies a woman was controlled or owned by a man, living in a condition of vassalage. 1200 years after Islam gave property rights to women, many in the wider western cultures started the suffrage movement in the late-19th century. This period witnessed significant changes to women’s property rights and the Married Women’s Act 1882 came into existence. The cultural and socioeconomic conditions in Europe gave the common practice among the upper classes to place women in seclusion. Before the 20th century it was also common in parts of Southern Europe, such as much of Spain to place women in seclusion. These same Europeans and Americans talk about Harems of Muslim kings to hide their own practices and mislead the future generations. This is a form of disinformation and misinformation. Until the 1970s legal subordination of married women was common across European countries through marriage laws giving legal authority to the husband. In a United States Supreme Court case, in 1981, the Court held a Louisiana Head and Master Law, which gave the sole control of marital property to the husband, unconstitutional. Yes, right to own property was given to women by Islam 1400 years ago.
The Qur’ān addresses everyone, men and women, equally: {The Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the worshipping men and worshipping women, the truthful men and truthful women, the pious men and pious women, the alms-giving men and the alms-giving women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men who are chaste and the women who are chaste, the men who remember Allah much and the women who do likewise, Allah has prepared a forgiveness and a great reward for all.} (Surat Al-Ahzab (33), ayah 35)
Allah also says: {It is not for a believing man or woman, when Allah and His messenger have decreed a matter, that they should have any option in their decision.} (Surat Al-Ahzab (33), ayah 36) and {Say to the believers to lower off their gaze and be chaste for this is more pure for them and God knows what they do. Say to the believing women to lower off their gaze and be chaste.} (Surat Al-Nour (24), ayah 30).
The general rule in Islam, therefore, is equality between men and women.
[MOHAMMAD YACOOB is a retired industrial engineer and engineering proposals analyst who lives in Los Angeles, California]