You are on page 1of 24

Gender

discrimination
Organization

 Equality
 Gender gap
 Gender equality in Islam
 The spiritual aspect
 The economic aspect
 The social aspect
 The political and legal aspect
What is ‘equality’ ?

Equal access to “opportunities that allow people to pursue a life of


their own choosing and to avoid extreme deprivations in outcomes”
(World Development Report, 2006)
Why is the gender gap so high?

 Culture
 Religion
 Structural and systemic barriers
 Varying levels of socioeconomic development
 Varying levels of democratization
Why reduce the Gender Gap?

 It’s a basic human right


 Freedom from male control
 Better health care
 More participants in the economy = economic growth
 Improved work/life balance for both women and men
Global Gender Gap

 Report of the World Economic Forum (2010)

 Based on four pillars:


 Economic attainment
 Political participation
 Health
 Education
Examples of Sub-indices

Pakistan

Bangladesh
Gender equality Rankings – some
comparisons
COUNTRY 2010 RANK
Norway 2
Philippines 9
Canada 20
The Gambia* 75
Bangladesh* 82
Japan 94
Saudi Arabia* 129
Pakistan* 132
Yemen* 134
*Muslim majority countries
Gender Equality in Islam
Quran Says…

 In the midst of the darkness that surrounded the world, the divine
revelation echoed in the wide desert of Arabia with a fresh, noble,
and universal message to humanity:

 He (God) it is who did create you from a single soul and therefrom
did create his mate, that he might dwell with her (in love)...(Qur'an
7:189)

 And Allah has given you mates of your own nature, and has given
you from your mates, children and grandchildren, and has made
provision of good things for you… (Qur'an 16:72)
 The spiritual aspect

 The economic aspect

 The social aspect

 The political and legal aspect


The Spiritual Aspect

 Women have the same human spiritual nature as men


 “"Every soul will be (held) in pledge for its deeds" (Qur'an 74:38). It
also states:
 ...So their Lord accepted their prayers, (saying): I will not suffer to be
lost the work of any of you whether male or female. You proceed
one from another ...(Qur'an 3: 195).
 Whoever works righteousness, man or woman, and has faith, verily
to him will We give a new life that is good and pure, and We will
bestow on such their reward according to the their actions.
(Qur'an16:97, see also 4:124).
The Social Aspect

As a child and an adolescent


 Despite the social acceptance of female infanticide among some
Arabian tribes, the Quran forbade this custom, and considered it a
crime like any other murder.
 "And when the female (infant) buried alive - is questioned, for what
crime she was killed." (Qur'an 81:8-9).
Among the sayings of Prophet Muhammad in this regard are the following:

Whosoever has a daughter and he does not bury her alive, does not insult her, and
does not favor his son over her, God will enter him into Paradise. (Ibn Hanbal, No.
1957).

Whosoever supports two daughters till they mature, he and I will come in the day of
judgment as this (and he pointed with his two fingers held together).
Right to education:
The right of females to seek knowledge is not different from that of males
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
 "Seeking knowledge is mandatory for every Muslim". (AlBayhaqi)
The Quran repeatedly commands all readers to read, to recite, to think, to
contemplate, as well as to learn from the signs of Allah.
 In fact, the very first revelation to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)) was concerned
with knowledge.
 Lectures of the Prophet were attended by audiences of both men and women
 By the time of the Prophet's death, there were many women scholars.
The Social Aspect (cont.)

As a wife:
 The Qur'an clearly indicates that marriage is sharing between the
two halves of the society, and that its objectives, besides
perpetuating human life, are emotional well-being and spiritual
harmony. Its bases are love and mercy.

 “And among His Signs is this, that He created for you mates from
among yourselves that you may dwell in tranquility with them, and
He has put love and mercy between your (hearts); verily in that are
signs for those who reflect.” (Quran 30:21)
The Qur'an states:
 "...But consort with them in kindness, for if you hate them it may happen that you
hate a thing wherein God has placed much good." (Qur'an 4: l9).

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:


 “The most perfect believers are the best in conduct and best of you are those
who are best to their wives.”

Prophet (peace be upon him) instructed Muslims regarding women,

 “I commend you to be kind to women.”


The Social Aspect (cont.)

As a mother:
Islam considers kindness to parents next to the worship of God.
Quran says:
 "Show gratitude to Me and to your parents: to Me is (your final)
destiny." (Quran 31:14)

Moreover, the Qur'an has a special recommendation for the good


treatment of mothers
 "And we have enjoined upon man (to be good) to his parents: His
mother bears him in weakness upon weakness..." (Qur'an 31:14) (See
also Qur'an 46:15, 29:8).
The Economic Aspect
Islam provides a woman with:
 Right to possess personal property- buy, sell, mortgage, lease without anyone’s
permission being required.
 "Whatever men earn, they have a share of that and whatever women earn, they
have a share in that." (Qur'an 4:31)
 In Islam the wife’s property and earnings are under her full control and for her use
alone. No matter how rich the wife might be, she is not obliged to act as a co-
provider unless she herself voluntarily chooses to do so.

 Right to seek Employment

 Right to Inheritance laws

 Financial security
The Political Aspect

Islam provides a woman with:


 Right to vote
 Participation in political affairs
 Women can be in leadership positions
 Participation in public affairs
 During the Caliphate of Omar Ibn al-Khattab, a woman argued with
him in the mosque, proved her point, and caused him to declare in
the presence of people: “The woman is right and Omar is wrong.”
Rights of Women in Islam

 Equality of reward for their deeds


 The right and duty to obtain education
 The right to obtain provisions from her father or brothers until she gets married
 The right to have their own independent property
 The right to provisions from the husband for all her needs and more.
 The right to work to earn money if they need it or want it
 The right to keep all her own money
 The right to express their opinion and be heard
 The right to negotiate marriage terms of her choice
 The right to obtain divorce from her husband
 The right to have custody of their children after divorce
 And more…
Even with such distorted image of women in
Islam in the West it is worth mentioning that:
 Out of every 5 Muslim reverts, 4 are women!
 The status which women reached in the west was achieved through
a long struggle and sacrifice on woman’s part and only when
society needed her contribution and work, during the two world
wars, and due to the escalation of technological change.
 In the case of Islam such compassionate and dignified status was
decreed more than 14 centuries ago, not because it reflects the
environment of the seventh century, nor under the threat or pressure
of women and their organizations, but rather because of its intrinsic
truthfulness.
What can governments do?

 Invest in schools, teachers, egalitarian curriculum development, and scholarships


 Expand access to public education by removing fees which many parents
cannot afford
 Promote equality
 Provide equal opportunities for men and women to be educated and to work
together as equals to build a healthy society
Thank you

You might also like