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CELEBRATING WOMEN IN ISLAMRead the article this discussion is about
This archived discussion is "read only". « Previous 1 2 Next » » hawknut - Re: Re: .... In response to Re: .... posted by Binte:influenced me in various ways with their strong sense of principle and integrity Thanks Fatima. The same for me. I greatly admire two women scientists I know/knew as personal friends. Fran died recently at 92 years old... she was studying a particular community of Indians along the Amazon River at the time. Amazing energy at her age. The other, Doctor Meg, is a pioneer in avian and veterinary research. She developed captive breeding techniques for a specific endangered species bird so they could be released into the wild to increase remaining populations. Others biologists said it couldn't be done, but she found the way. She is now battling illness herself at a young age of 45. lives a life honest to her self and her gender What does honest to her 'gender' mean? Can you give me an example? -- posted by hawknut » Binte - Re: Re: Re: .... In response to Re: Re: .... posted by hawknut:Your friends sound like fantastic women - I find the one quality people I admire share is their passion for what they believe in. It's infectious! I do wish for the best for Doctor Meg. By saying honest to gender, I simply mean that a woman should be able to proudly embrace her feminity in all its glory. I've come across women who have been almost ashamed of being female and who keep saying how men have it better. They seem to (sometimes unconciously) encourage others to look down on women and try to do away with what they consider 'weaker' tendencies. I firmly believe that the only way to gain the respect of others as a woman, is to first respect your gender yourself. That means being honest to yourself about what your strengths and weaknesses are and then working on them -- posted by Binte » Pinky102 - Re: Re: Re: Re: .... In response to Re: Re: Re: .... posted by Binte:"That means being honest to yourself about what your strengths and weaknesses are and then working on them" And, learning about their interests, likes and dislikes and interests and desires and then working on them. Learning to express yourself is in the middle of it all. -- posted by Pinky102 » hawknut - Re: Women's shame In response to Re: Re: Re: .... posted by Binte:I've come across women who have been almost ashamed of being female and who keep saying how men have it better. Do you think this is a cultural or a religious thing... this shame for being female? Was this gender shame instilled in them as children? In many cultures, males ~do~ have it much better. In some, females are aborted or disposed of after birth. Girls and wives can be killed for minor infractions. The male children are treasured. As to religion... I think the biblical Eve story, and her portrayal as the one responsible for the downfall of Man, has much to do with attitudes against women - even today. The blood guilt for Man's original sin is ingrained into girls from birth. Also in the bible, women were considered possessions much like an ox or a donkey, and the requirement to be obedient and subservant to men is found throughout. So, based on religious precepts alone, I do understand why it might be difficult for some women to find glory in being female, and to embrace and respect their femininity. Personally, I don't suffer gender shame, and I've never thought of women as the weaker sex. Just the opposite. What do you think? -- posted by hawknut » Binte - Re: Re: Women's shame In response to Re: Women's shame posted by hawknut:My first reaction to the source of gender shame would be say it is cultural. But then, you've mentioned the Bible, and I think Judaic ideas about women are similar. I also know that in Hinduism, women are expected to 'worship' their husbands and in (not so) ancient times, widows were expected to burn at the pyre of their husbands as proof of absolute loyalty to them! So I'd have to then say it depends on what culture or religion you speak in context of. I know Islam doesn't discriminate. It all revolves around the belief in Justice (that's why it's such a fundamental one Take my community here - we're Indian Muslims and it's taken years for us to begin to discard the Indian traditions that go against women and replace them with Islamic ones that give us more freedom and rights. But the conflict remains and has to be constantly addressed. -- posted by Binte » Pinky102 - Bury Your Daughters In response to Re: Re: Women's shame posted by Binte:I vageuly remember talk about an ancient Arabic custom in which all daughters were not permitted to live until a son was born into the family. Is it true that the Prophet (pboh) called for an end to this practice? -- posted by Pinky102 » hawknut - Re: Re: Re: Women's shame In response to Re: Re: Women's shame posted by Binte:So I'd have to then say it depends on what culture or religion you speak in context of. Thanks for adding your comments about other faiths. It's clear that inequality is pervasive. I agree, much depends on the particular society. But the conflict remains and has to be constantly addressed. So true - for every society. In my secular country, I'm seeing an attempt by the Fundamental Christian Right to install 'that ol' time religion' (which, imo, endorses inequality) into the political and justice system. So, yes, the rights women worked hard to secure yesterday can be lost tomorrow if one isn't vigilant. How do women go about affecting change in your country? Legally, or socially? Both? -- posted by hawknut » Binte - Re: Bury Your Daughters In response to Bury Your Daughters posted by Pinky102:Yes, the Arabs used to bury their daughters alive. Not only until they got sons, but even after. Daughters were generally considered a curse. After the Prophet (pbuh) declared his mission, the first thing he did was stop the practice. The Qur'an also mentions it specifically in many places because it was such a common custom: "Lost are those who slay their children..." (Chapter 6, Verse 140) "When news is brought to one of them of (the birth of) a female (child), his face darkens and he is filled with inward grief! "With shame does he hide himself from his people because of the bad news he has had. Shall he keep it in contempt, or bury it in the dust? Ah, what an evil choice they decide on!" (Chapter 16, verses 58 and 59)
-- posted by Binte » Binte - Re: Re: Re: Re: Women's shame In response to Re: Re: Re: Women's shame posted by hawknut:In the country, I'd say women try to change things legally and socially, but the latter produces more results. When we speak of women's rights, more often than not we are speaking of human rights. Many Kenyan soceities still see women as being less human than men. Women are not allowed to eat meat or chicken in some communities, they can't wear certain items of clothing or are expected to accept outdated practicies such as wife inheritance. On an even more sobering note, there is the rite of FGM (female circumcision) which is still followed in some tribal communities. It's one of the longest and hardest fights women have been fighting, because it is against other women who actually promote this and take pride in it. Cultural programming is extremely difficult to reason away -- posted by Binte » hawknut - Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Women's shame In response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Women's shame posted by Binte:FGM (female circumcision) which is still followed in some tribal communities. I'm aware of this girl-child mutilation. At one time here, circumcision of male infants in hospitals was automatically performed, regardless of religion. In fact, as recently as 14 years ago, I received hospital bills with circumcision charges automatically tacked on, even though I had refused that procedure for my newborn son. You're so right... Cultural programming is extremely difficult to reason away Another poster (paper-turtle) uses Plato's words in her signature: "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle." In comparison with what you posted, we American women suffer minor injustices, imo. -- posted by hawknut « Previous 1 2 Next » Please follow the guidelines set forth in the Suite101 Posting Etiquette when adding to the discussion. |
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