Preview

Do Muslim Women Need Saving Analysis

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1318 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Do Muslim Women Need Saving Analysis
While women’s oppression exists in virtually every society around the world, issues pertaining to women vary by culture, race, religion, economic status, and geographic location as well as many other variables and attributes that makes us individual, but separate us and our experiences. Global feminism is often separated into two groups, the global North which consists of Western feminists from places with greater wealth such as North America and some parts of Western Europe, and the global South which consists of feminists from countries that are often identified as “third-world” due to their lack of industrialization and lower economic status in comparison to the global North. These two groups are distinguished not only by their differing …show more content…
Many feminists of the global North view the Muslim religion as inherently oppressive towards women even though they know nothing about the religion or Muslim culture. They only address it from an outsiders perspective and not from the perspective of Muslim women. Lila Abu- Lughod discusses this issue in her book Do Muslim Women Need Saving?. In the introduction chapter Zaynab, a friend of Abu- Lughod from southern Egypt, does a good job of summarizing what Western women should really be concerned about ( Abu-Lughod, pg. 1). When Abu- Lughod mentions her research and how Western women believe that Muslim women are oppressed Zaynab agrees and explains that Muslim women are not given certain rights, but that this is due to the oppressive government not Islam (Abu- Lughod, pg. 1). Feminists of the global North view traditional Muslim headscarves as oppressive and fail to recognize or consider the actual feelings of Muslim women. These misconceptions hold them back from actually helping Muslim women. Another one of the reasons why Western feminists view Islam as oppressive is due to “honor crimes”, acts of violence (often times murder) against female family members by male family members due to the female members violating sexual codes and thus dishonoring their family. Western feminists view honor crimes as barbaric Muslim traditions and fail to recognize that honor killings really stem from the intense value of honor and family that exists in Muslim culture (Abu-Lughod, pg. 114-116). It is not religion that fuels these murders but the society that holds honor in such high regard. Yet again Western feminists fail to learn about the cultures in which these issues lie and the women they are concerned
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The Butterfly Mosque Summary
    • 305 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The Butterfly Mosque Summary

    This book elaborately discusses numerous inaccurate depictions of Muslim society. However, the central stereotype, which is being challenged throughout the text, relates to Islamic women and how they are seen as limited by their religious beliefs. It is important that Wilson…

    • 305 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Nine Parts of Desire
    • 1250 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Nine Parts of Desire

    There are many political, religious, and cultural factors that shape the lives of Islamic women. Islam is one of the world’s fastest growing religions; however, Brooks argues that “Islam’s holiest texts have been misused to justify the repression of women, and how male pride and power have warped the original message of this once liberating faith.” The book also shows these factors have slowly been taking away women’s rights, rather than furthering them.…

    • 1250 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Mona Eltahawy Headscarves And Hymens Summary
    • 530 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Mona Eltahawy Headscarves And Hymens Summary

    Although the world seems to be developing yearly in improving women's lives “the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has made the fewest reforms of any region”.“Eltahawy argued that in the Muslim world women are still treated like animals by men who disdain and fear them.” Furthermore, this proves women in the Middle East are fighting a battle that seems to be bigger than them. It is engraved in their minds from an early age that they are meant to be objectified, but as the world evolves slowly they began to realize they were being treated unequally. Eltahawy continues by stating in “Headscarves and Hymens” another woman's experience where her husband “solely focuses on his…

    • 530 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Women During The Mongol Era
    • 564 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Women During The Mongol Era

    In today’s world, women have been working hard to emphasize their role in the society. Whether it be as wives, mothers, friends or as workers. Women have been noticed for achieving great success around the world. However, in some third world countries the rights of woman are being oppressed and they are merely being considered as objects or materials. Even in todays advanced world, young girls and women are sold off to wealthy men in exchange for some money.…

    • 564 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Muslim Women
    • 869 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Muslim Women

    The life of women in the a Islamic society is faced with great and unequal odds, as their human rights are limited, due to Islamic beliefs and a patriarchy society. From their daily actions at home, to their physical appearance, women are portrayed as quiet, faceless women veiled from head to toe. While this image is just another stereotype, women in the Islamic society do face many obstacles and challenges of creating their own identity as they are frequently denied their rights. Living in a society dominated by men, life in some cases is difficult for women in the Islamic society. There is constant fight for a change as they balance their traditional roles with those of modern society.…

    • 869 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    School
    • 792 Words
    • 3 Pages

    School

    First Slide>>Introduction- Millions of women throughout the world live in conditions in which they are deprived of their basic human rights for no other reason than their gender. Women throughout Europe, the Middle East and Asia were unable to have any influence over the political, religious or cultural lives of their societies. They couldn’t own property or inherit land and wealth, and were frequently treated as property themselves.…

    • 792 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Summary Of Looking Beyond The Wall
    • 427 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Summary Of Looking Beyond The Wall

    Although this story did not directly relate to women’s rights, it so clearly relates to this week’s topic of global feminism. Until domestic feminists actually understand the situations, experiences, and cultures that other women around the world face, they will not be able to truly appreciate their feminist sisters and work together with efforts of global feminism.…

    • 427 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Honor Killings in the United States
    • 2073 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Honor Killings in the United States

    “Honor Killings” are thought to be a justified way of cleansing an individual or family’s honor, by many Arab Muslims and radical followers of Islam through the murder of women. In Arab culture, where honor is prized and female sexual purity exalted, a family can be cast out if a female member brings shame upon them. “Honor Killings, were once thought to only happen in Middle Eastern countries such as Yemen, Pakistan and Iraq, however there is an increased number of “honor killings” being reported right here in the United States. As individuals immigrate from various cultures and religious backgrounds, traditions and ways of thinking are often brought into the United States. Muslim women are expected to act in a certain manner, and are male family members decide which manner that may be and inflict punishment on those who reject or defy these manners. These radical Islamist believe they are justified in their actions because they are following their interpretation of the Quran- the holy book of Islam. With anti-Arab and anti-Muslim sentiments already at an all-time high in the United States, “honor killings” may often fuel this racism.…

    • 2073 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Islamic Women
    • 1602 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Islamic Women

    The question proposed in the title is basically a direct response after going through Geraldine Brooks’ essay “Nine Parts of Desire; The Hidden World of Islamic Women” in its second chapter. Geraldine poses several ideas and personal experiences in which she tries to understand the mystery of the perpetuating repressive and barbaric practices (genital mutilation, infibulations, hysterectomy, and honor killings) that have nothing to do with Koranic teachings. She starts her essay in a detailed description of a gruesome and shocking scene of a hysterectomy procedure that took place under poor and unequipped conditions (Brooks 33). Many women that were subjected to such practices ended up dead. For such manner, Dr. Abrehet Gebrekidan, a gynecologist, offered the Eritreans help since her skills will ensure their survival (Brooks 34). Furthermore, the Kuran refused the existence of the dreadful genital mutilation procedures, but the women were not educated enough to read it (Brooks 35). And despite the consequences of such procedures, they believed that such procedures were to safeguard the girls’ chastity where the honor of the fathers and brothers depended on (Brooks 37). As for men, they believed that these operations are equivalent to their honors, therefore they must repress women sexualities by turning off their pleasure sites otherwise they will end up as prostitutes (Brooks 35). The prophet Muhammad, who is the ideal person of all Muslims, believed that women should enjoy sexual intercourse with their husbands. And that it is forbidden to take away women desires (Brooks 39). According to Muslims, specifically Shiite, adultery “sigheh or muta” is acceptable and sanctioned by a cleric where the couple are together mainly for having sex and providing money (Brooks 43). Brooks also mentions the idea of honor killings that were and still adopted in some Islamic tribes. They believe that fathers and…

    • 1602 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Counseling Arab Americans
    • 3406 Words
    • 14 Pages

    Counseling Arab Americans

    The belief, common among non-Arab Americans, that Arabic families are oppressive and dominated by violent fathers who mistreat their wives and children, has been documented in numerous sources (e.g. Suleiman, 1988, Al-Mughni, 1993). This is probably not unexpected given the struggle to fit traditional Islam with expanding women’s rights throughout the Muslim world (Al-Mughni, 1993). Despite theological interpretations of the Qu’ran that argue for equality between the sexes (e.g. Engineer, 2004) the issue of sexual equality remains contentious. Accounts of honor killings and other acts of violent oppression against women (Goodwin, 2002) in Muslim countries fuel the image of Muslim and Arabic men as hostile and violent toward women (although other women assist in many of these incidents).…

    • 3406 Words
    • 14 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Four Sociological Perspectives
    • 1399 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Four Sociological Perspectives

    Feminist theories examine women’s social, economic, and political inequality (Benokraitis, 2015). Feminists agree that the inequality of gender is both in the workplace and at home. Although, they believe that women’s vulnerability plays a key role in gender inequality. “All feminists (female and male) agree on three general points: (1) men and women should be valued equally; (2) women should have more control over their lives; (3) political, economic, family, and other institutions can reduce gender inequality” (Benokraitis, 2015). Men and women can be feminist, and they believe that gender equality is crucial.…

    • 1399 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    North American Women
    • 1076 Words
    • 5 Pages

    North American Women

    The female plays a vital role in every culture, but the expectation of a woman is different from North America to the Middle East. American women had to fight for their current rights, but in some countries women are not given the opportunity to fight, or even think it. Both religion and men from the Middle East play a major role in the Islamic woman’s beliefs, education, and even health. Imagine the American women of the past, who were not able to have an education, expected to bare children, expected to wear a dress and had no say in the political world.…

    • 1076 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Muslim Stereotypes
    • 543 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Muslim Stereotypes

    The common stereotype of Muslim women is a voiceless, passive, victim. We do not see or hear stories of Muslim women leading successful jobs or households, but more as a helpless victim of violence and sexual acts of other Muslims. Stories of murders and honor killings of the Islamic religion are more commonly told. An aspect that adds to the common label of Muslim women is their religious expectations and requirements. The media expresses this as a requirement that is against their will and have no choice, thus again being voiceless.…

    • 543 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    The Quran Does Not Condone Domestic Violence
    • 2310 Words
    • 10 Pages

    The Quran Does Not Condone Domestic Violence

    Claire M. Renzetti, Jeffrey L. Edleson and Raquel Kennedy Bergen. Sourcebook On Violence Against Women. Sage Publications International And Professional Publishers Thousand Oaks.…

    • 2310 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Intersectional Feminism
    • 527 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Intersectional Feminism

    While she will never experience the racism and homophobia that I face, I will likely never experience the economic hardships she faces in struggling to raise her children. However, in discussing feminism, one must address a prominent question posed by many: Is feminism still relevant in today’s society? Naomi Wolf, author, journalist, and political advisor to Al Gore and Bill Clinton once said, “The enemy is not lipstick, but guilt itself, that we deserve lipstick, if we want it, and free speech; we deserve to be sexual AND serious… or whatever we please; we are entitled to wear cowboy boots to our own revolution.” In the US, the gender pay gap still exists, access to reproductive healthcare is becoming more limited, protection against sexual assault and violence is a joke, and representation in the media is confined to about five stereotypes. In many countries outside the US, women are not entitled to own property or inherit land. Social exclusion and restriction, honor killings, genital mutilation, trafficking, and child marriage among others restrict women from advancing in society and deny basic human…

    • 527 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics