Oppression: Muslim Women in Canada
Word count: 1,489
Throughout history, women have been victims of oppression no matter what religion or background they come from. They have learned from a young age, that their appearance is important to fundamentally be happy in their life. The topic of oppression in woman leads to controversial discussion not only to scholars but women of all parts of the world. How a woman presents herself through appearance and clothing targets her in a society obsessed with each other’s business. In today’s society, whether we can help it or not, men are treated differently than women. There seems to be different “rules” associated with the acceptable ways they should dress as opposed to the strict rules that apply to women. Women who are westernized are exposed to different forms of oppression than those from the east. Not that westernized women don’t face hardship, but they face it in a different light. Islamic women are the focus here, women who follow their religion by wearing the Hijab and women who feel it’s not necessary to cover one self to be a good Muslim. There is no one image of an Arabic woman but whether or not there is a scarf on her head, Islamic woman feel the same pressure as women of every culture. Unfortunately in many places, these women don’t have a say or have a chance to rebel against these pressures and laws as they could be punished. These pressures come from their religion and their society; from their peers and their culture. Growing up in a Muslim home, I understand what Islamic women go through their whole lives to be accepted not only in their religious community but in modern society as well. As Tabassum Ruby mentions in her article, Listening to the Voices of Hijab, the meaning of the Hijab can be interpreted in a different way depending on whose perspective it comes from. A woman who wears the Hijab may see it as a “religious obligation” while a Muslim woman who doesn’t wear it may see it as a “cultural symbol” (Ruby 43). The women that
Throughout history, women have been victims of oppression no matter what religion or background they come from. They have learned from a young age, that their appearance is important to fundamentally be happy in their life. The topic of oppression in woman leads to controversial discussion not only to scholars but women of all parts of the world. How a woman presents herself through appearance and clothing targets her in a society obsessed with each other’s business. In today’s society, whether we can help it or not, men are treated differently than women. There seems to be different “rules” associated with the acceptable ways they should dress as opposed to the strict rules that apply to women. Women who are westernized are exposed to different forms of oppression than those from the east. Not that westernized women don’t face hardship, but they face it in a different light. Islamic women are the focus here, women who follow their religion by wearing the Hijab and women who feel it’s not necessary to cover one self to be a good Muslim. There is no one image of an Arabic woman but whether or not there is a scarf on her head, Islamic woman feel the same pressure as women of every culture. Unfortunately in many places, these women don’t have a say or have a chance to rebel against these pressures and laws as they could be punished. These pressures come from their religion and their society; from their peers and their culture. Growing up in a Muslim home, I understand what Islamic women go through their whole lives to be accepted not only in their religious community but in modern society as well. As Tabassum Ruby mentions in her article, Listening to the Voices of Hijab, the meaning of the Hijab can be interpreted in a different way depending on whose perspective it comes from. A woman who wears the Hijab may see it as a “religious obligation” while a Muslim woman who doesn’t wear it may see it as a “cultural symbol” (Ruby 43). The women that
References: Bordo, Susan. Material Girl: The effacements of postmodern culture. The gender/sexuality reader: culture, history, political economy. 1997. Pp. 335-358. Chesler, Phyllis and Spencer, Robert. The violent oppression of women in Islam. David and Horowitz freedom center. Las Angeles. 2007 Jhally, Sut Sayeed, Almas. Chappals and gym shorts: an Indian Muslim woman in the land of oz. Colonize this! Young women of colour on today’s feminism. 2002. Pp. 203-214. Oppression of women March 4th, 2010.