Islamic Women in the Socio-Political World - Case Study Example

Islamic Women in the Socio-Political World How the role of Islamic women in the society came about is along narrative of Islamic history. But what is obvious in the past and at present is the haggling persistence of women to excel and be seen in the contemporary age. It can be realized that religion in many ways affect every individual's perspective and thinking along with the social function that it plays. In the book entitled "The Heritage of Islam" the authors mentioned some examples on how Islam in Nigeria and Senegal affects almost all functions in the society whether it be public, private and even political beliefs that can all be traced in the teachings of the religion which is Islam. It is also important to note that because of this great change from the time Islam entered the two places, it is no longer easy to identify which are the pre-Islamic ways and which are not as everything is affected by this so-called religion that seems to cover all aspects and ways of living in Senegal and Nigeria. In relation to this, the society covered by the virtues and rules of Islamic religion can be observed and be seen to have a patriarchal form where male dominates the female. This is where we get to see the real and the original role of women in the Islamic society. It can't be argued that part of the teachings of the Q'uran is for women to be submissive to their husbands especially after marriage. It is also said that a woman has no right to talk with other male other than her husband or close relatives. Going over what is mandated and what is expected for women to do is against the Q'uran. However, this kind of belief and practices no matter how oppressive as seen by many feminists and critics continue to spread and obviously still being practiced to places where Islam resides. But going deeper to the subject of women's oppressive role in the Islamic society, there can be no doubt that women for their part somehow influence male as they make decisions that affect political and economical status. It is interesting to know that the fact that they are submissive to their husbands, they can still affect these decisions, even if they are out of power. Power and influence the book The Heritage of Islam claims are not the same or co-terminous. When power is defined as the ability to make people do things they would not otherwise do, the use of force to compel such action if necessary is implied. In few, if any, societies today are women able to wield this kind of power, at least at the national level. However, they are not unable to influence their world or the events that concern them; they simply do not command the power to compel decisions or behavior, to determine what choices are made. (Creevey et. al., page 4). The quoted line above gives us an inkling that women are significant in the society not because we are arguing about existence but because the effect of women's influence to male's decision-making that most of the times is indirectly done and indirectly observed. This situation has long been observed by women and therefore in answer to this need or rather call for change, they have also decided to take part in the different challenges that male have been facing since time immemorial. In the same book by Creevey, it can be understood that with the search for bigger roles in the society, this in now the very famous words we call 'women empowerment.' The goal of this paper is not merely to check what empowerment of women means, or what the process is. This is just however to simply reiterate the events and factors that affected Islamic women to come out of their shells being oppressed masked by the role of a wife to their husbands. The Heritage of women somehow gives us a glimpse of this abrupt change in the status and giving the Western African as an example, we could see how women tried to rise from the simple roles of just being a wife. Nowhere in West Africa do women control the political structures or dominate the political process. In all West African countries they are permitted to vote, but their vote is usually cast for a male candidate. Political parties sometimes have women's wings and generally admit women to membership and to positions within their hierarchy, but West African women have not been national party leaders. Rarely has there been a movement or even a strike led by women based on a "women's issue," although there were a few uprisings of this nature in colonial West Africa.In Nigeria, for example, a so-called "women's war" took place in 1929 and in 1973, market women rioted in Accra to protest the attempts of the Rawlings government to tax them. Across West Africa, a few women have been elected to national parliaments, and a handful have been chosen for ministerial positions or other high government office. (Creevey et. al., page 141). In the book "Women and the Quran" several statements were given on how women should behave as expected. It includes the very known idea of being submissive in a way that when a woman is called by her husband at night to sleep with him, she must immediately follow, lest she will be cursed by the angels in the morning. This is the same idea that burdens the role of women. Many people suggest that even if Mohammad in his life had so many wives and had been attracted to females, still, it is not enough basis for women to live according to what was set as an historical example. (Hekmat, page 33). Looking at the other side of the world on the views about Islamic women, they are seen as mostly oppressed and discriminated. From the book "Islam in Australia," instances seen to be the basis of this discrimination is the simple fact that men are allowed to have even four wives while women are only allowed to have one. The next intriguing fact is the using of veil or headscarf whenever women are to face the public or places where there are males. Also, another aspect that can be seen as part of the discrimination is that women are not allowed to go to school beyond primary level. They too are not allowed to drive and in some communities, they are not allowed to vote. This is just additional information because all throughout the world, there are different views about the Islamic women but from these differences, there are created same views as well. The only same notion about the Islamic women is that they are still struggling in this modern age to keep up with time when the economic boosting of the different countries which is also known as globalization. But going back to the topic of this paper, since women are expected to be submissive, and worse oppressed in the society and to be mere followers of their husbands, what can be made from them is perhaps in the political world, followers of the rules and just observers of the changes happening around them. In the first place, they are made to follow and according to Quran, women are to be condemned and cursed once they don't follow such rule of Allah. Look at this idea again. Why in the first place should women be just mere followers of the rules well in fact, they can already contribute to this change that men or males are trying to reach. Some women have seen this hole in the belief, some have opened their eyes already which is why in some countries, women play a big role in making political groups win over others. This is also the reason why some groups would absorb female for the sake of political party winning. Others, they remain to be supporters of the male species. What is then the best judgment and suggestion for all these situations or rather oppressions being faced by the Islamic women at present time' Well, since the issue is directed on the socio-political advantages out of the oppressed Islamic women, the best approach is to look on it as delimiting factor that further lessen the threat to male political agenda. The world is used to be seeing leaders all coming from the male species and for a long time, they have built the world full of dominant ideas from men and only an inkling and limited grasp from women. This is no longer to argue who is superior or not because the world has argued about it for a long time now. It is also not the case of commodification of women's support for the political parties, rather a case of being flexible and reflexive to immediately answer the call for taking part in the socio-political situation worldwide. It is nonetheless useless to defend the past and the lack of participation of women brought about by religious beliefs, Islam in particular. But doing it without bias, the most practical and efficient solution to the materialization of this oppression is none other than to wake up from the slum of idea that women are mere followers in the political world. Though the Quran states that following the husband is good and mandated, still, it did not say that women with thinking minds are not allowed to participate in the challenging world of economics and real politics. SOURCES Creevey, L., Callaway, B., Rienner L. 1994. The Heritage of Islam: Women, Religion, and Politics in West Africa. Boulder, CO. Hekmat, A. 1997. Women and the Koran: The Status of Women in Islam. Amherst, NY. Saeed, A. 2003. Islam in Australia. Crows Nest, N.S.W.. Publication Year: 2003. Page Number: 157. Read More