Women’s Rights – what men can learn from secular and Islamic perspectives?
Introduction
It is unclear who said the famous phrase “Behind every successful man, there is a woman,” but it is rumored and believed that it was the founding mother of the Feminist movement (Toussier, 2018). This phrase is commonly used to acknowledge the success of men, but can we say that “Behind every successful woman, there is a man”?
As a former member of a committee called EDGE (Empowerment, Diversity, Growth, and Excellence) to promote and accelerate the advancement of women. During a workshop on March 8th, International Women's Day, an EDGE member made a post “Behind every successful woman are a bunch of other women.”?This post made me question how positively or negatively males - husbands, brothers, friends, professionals, and colleagues - have contributed to the success of women. Women have decided to take ownership of their issues through feminist movements and continue to fight for their own and other women's rights.
According to World Health Organization(2017), women continue to be victims of rape, sexual harassment, domestic violence, inequality in pay, and under presented in leadership positions. Former CEO Lisa Wardell at Adtalem Global Education is the only African American CEO running one of the nation’s 1,000 largest publicly traded companies in the USA.
To control women's population, countries like India and China allow abortions if the sex of the baby is a girl. This occurs as culturally, boys are seen as a financial supporters of the family, and parents would like to live with their son(s) who can support them when they grow old. The control of birth has impacted the gender ratio, where certain regions in India and China have more males than females. As a result, most men cannot find wives due to this disproportion.
Secular and religious nations have not provided women with rights by creating laws in their favor that can help them feel supported as compared to men. Therefore, women are now working for the rights of other women. There is no overwhelming evidence that men have supported women to the extent that women can acknowledge them and, as a reason for their success, say, “Behind every successful woman are other women and men.”
Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the West. The western media has portrayed Islam as a religion of violence. The Western media, like Fox News, promotes a mindset that “Not all Muslims are terrorists, but all terrorists are Muslims.” ?Obeidallah (2015) and publicizing the treatment of women in the Middle East used as an example of how Islam promotes men to treat women, for example not allowing women to drive cars, leave the house, and men can beat their wives. Despite these negative images, women are the highest converts than men in the West. Based on research by Bindel (2010), who interviewed converted women, she reported that a common notion is that Islam “provides a sense of belonging and a clear identity. Islam has the clarity that some other religions or lifestyles do not. Some women in the West may feel let down by feminism. But it is probably for spiritual reasons that many women convert. We must ask, why go through with it despite the negative view of Islam at present?” (Bindel, 2010).
Men have to actively play a role in supporting women because both are part of society. Due to the growing issues with women that are caused by men, it is imperative that men should be educated about the rights of women and the laws that support their well-being. I cannot find any current social, political, or economic system that produced men as a nation to treat women with the care, respect, and love they deserve as wives, mothers, sisters, colleagues, and in general, citizen of the nation.
In this paper, I will analyze Martha Nussbaum (2011) Central Capabilities. She is an American philosopher and ethics lecturer at the University of Chicago. And an Islamic scholar in India, Zakir Naik (2015), gave a talk on Women's Rights in Islam - Protected or Subjugated. His findings were based on the Quran (Holy Book – last revelation) and Hadith (Authentic sayings of Prophet Mohammed, Peace Be Upon Him). The goal of this paper is to review how a secular approach from Nussbaum and women’s rights in Islam, explained by Naik, can help men learn that despite being different in gender are overall equal. To provide a specific context, Nussbaum (2011) story of Vasanti will be used as a reference and what her husband can learn if he was reading this paper.
Central Capabilities
Nussbaum (2011) compiled a list of 10 Central Capabilities for human development that is worthy of human dignity (Nussbaum, 2011, p. 33-34)
1.????Life. Being able to live to the end of a human?life of normal length; not dying prematurely, or before one's life is so reduced as to be not worth living.
2.????Bodily Health. Being able to have good?health, including?reproductive health; to be adequately?nourished; to have adequate?shelter.
3.????Bodily Integrity. Being able to move freely from place to place; to be secure against violent?assault, including?sexual assault?and?domestic violence; having opportunities for?sexual satisfaction?and for choice in matters of reproduction.
4.????Senses, Imagination, and Thought. Being able to use the senses, to imagine, think, and reason—and to do these things in a "truly human" way, a way informed and cultivated by an adequate?education, including, but by no means limited to,?literacy?and basic mathematical and?scientific training. Being able to use imagination and thought in connection with experiencing and producing works and events of one's own choice, religious, literary, musical, and so forth. Being able to use one's mind in ways protected by guarantees of?freedom of expression?with respect to both political and artistic speech, and?freedom of religious exercise. Being able to have pleasurable experiences and to avoid non-beneficial pain.
5.????Emotions.?Being able to have attachments to things and people outside ourselves; to love those who love and care for us, to grieve at their absence; in general, to?love, to?grieve, to experience longing,?gratitude, and justified?anger. Not having one's emotional development blighted by fear and anxiety. (Supporting this capability means supporting forms of human association that can be shown to be crucial in their development.)
6.????Practical Reason.?Being able to form a conception of the?good?and to engage in critical reflection about the?planning of one's life. (This entails protection for the?liberty of conscience?and religious observance.)
7.????Affiliation.
8.????Other Species.?Being able to live with concern for and in relation to animals, plants, and the world of nature.
9.????Play.?Being able to?laugh, to play, to enjoy?recreational?activities.
10. Control over one's?Environment.
Women Rights in Islam
Islam is on the rise, despite negative media coverage by the West. Converts are more women than men. And, it is quite astonishing how, despite the negative publicity of women in Islam, why women are opting to convert in democratic secular nations. Currently, no Islamic country has fully incorporated the rights of women in Islam. Bindel (2010) interviewed women who converted and still could not understand why they converted. For a better understanding of what Islam says about women, it is important to understand what the Quran (Holy Book) and Hadith (Sayings of Prophet Mohammad, Peace Be Upon Him), and Sunnah (Practices of Prophet Mohammad, Peace Be Upon Him) says about women and how their core capabilities contributed to the betterment of the society. Naik (2015) categorized and explained women's rights in Islam into six categories: Spiritual Rights, Economic Rights, Social Rights, Educational Rights, Legal Rights, and Political Rights.
Spiritual Rights
In Islam, men and women are created equally. They have been given the same spiritual nature. Both will be rewarded based on their deeds. Deeds are based on ‘Taqwa’, God consciousness or righteousness. God has given His knowledge to both male and female, and they will be judged equally irrespective of any skin color, caste, wealth, age, or sex.
Pregnancy and childbirth in other religion have been said to degrade women, and labor pain is a sort of punishment. Women in Islam are put at a higher status when they give birth. Islam commands children to respect their mother, for they have endured the pain while giving birth.
The spiritual and moral duties for men and women in Islam are the same. Both have to believe in His commands, pray, fast and give in charity. But the women have been given certain concessions in Islam.?If she is undergoing her menstrual period or pregnancy, she does not have to fast. She can keep those fasts later when possible. During the menstrual period and the postnatal period, she does not need to pray. She has been given the concession, and neither does she have to compensate for it later on.
Economics Rights
Rights in Property: Women in Islam received economic rights before the West. It was in 1870 when for the first time in England, under the Women’s Marriage Property Act, the rights of the married woman were recognized, where she was allowed to own or dispose of any of her property without consultation. While in Islam, the woman, married or not, had the right to own or dispose of any of her property without taking any permission 1400 years ago.
Financially Secure than Men: Women are more financially secure than men. A woman is not obliged to work for a living. Before marriage, the father and brother must take care of financial aspects, and later once married, it is the duty of the husband and the son to take care of her financial needs – lodging, boarding, clothing, and?financial?needs. Women can work if they want as long as it is not an unethical profession.
If a woman decides to work, she does not have to spend her earnings on her family. She can support the family financially, but it is not her responsibility. No one can force her to give her money to support the financial needs of the family.
Compulsory Marital Gift:
In marriage, a woman receives a mandatory dowry or marital gift from the husband called ‘Meher’. This practice is not embraced as intended, as the amount set in the marriage contract is very less. However, a lot of money is spent on marriage ceremonies. These measures are mainly practiced in the Subcontinent. Due to the cultural practices in the Hindu weddings in India that were adopted in Pakistan, the women are expected to give dowry. Based on the financial status, the husband, including his parents, expects the girl to bring a dowry which can include money, buy house/apartment, bring items to furnish the house. These practices are prohibited in Islam. This action creates a burden for the lower and middle-class families to follow rituals that creates a more financial burden for women and their families.
No Financial Liabilities:
A woman, irrespective of her financial status, has no financial liability. Her husband can be from a rich, middle, or poor-class family, but his responsibility is to take care of her basic needs, including lodging, boarding, and clothing. In case of a divorce or a widow, she should receive financial support for a period of ‘Iddah’ which is a period a woman must observe after the death of her husband or after a divorce. If she has kids, then she should be given child support.
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Right to Inherit
Women have the right to inherit from her parents and husband. They inherit less than men because the financial responsibility is all on the men as a brother, husband, and father to take care of the family, including kids, wife, mother, and sister. Men inherit more as they are obligated to spend their money to fulfill the needs of their family, which might mean they spend all of the money inherited. Fortunately, women are excused from these obligations and get to keep it all for themselves.
Social Rights of Women - Daughter, wife, and mother
Social Rights of a Daughter:
Islam prohibits female infanticide, including male or female. Killing female infanticide is commonly practiced in India.?A BBC report, titled ‘Let Her Die’, reported that every day more than 3,000 fetuses are being aborted if the sex is female.?In states like Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan, this practice was promoted to help people save money on education and dowry spent on girls. According to the report of the Government Hospital of Tamil Nadu, out of every 10 female children that are born, four are put to death. Due to these practices, the female population in India is less than the male population. The statistics of 1991 tell that for every 1000 males, there are 927 females.
Islam promotes parents to give equal love and respect and has no partiality between son and daughter. Raising daughter(s) has a higher reward as deeds in Islam than raising son(s).
Social Rights to Wife:
Naik (2015) explains that civilizations have considered women as the “instrument of the devil”. The Quran refers to the women as ‘Mohsana’, that is a “fortress against the devil”. Love is promoted between men and women when they live as husband and wife. A man cannot marry a woman without her will. No one can force a man or woman to get married. Parents do force their children, but it is more of cultural practice, for example, in feudal families, girls are informed who they will be married to without seeking their consent. A marriage conducted forcefully in Islam is not considered legit. The women can decide to continue or invalidate the marriage.?
In Islam, a woman is considered a homemaker. To encourage love toward wives, the most perfect of the believing men are those who are best in character and behavior and those that are best to their wives. If a man does not love his wife, he should still treat her with kindness and equity. Both are each other “garments”?that beautify, protect, and conceal faults for each other.
Husband and wife have equal rights in all aspects, except leadership in the family. This is mainly because a husband has more responsibility than the wife, not that they are superior to women, which is a misconception portrayed by misinformation men. They are the guardian, protectors, and maintainers of women. It is their responsibility to provide money, food, clothing, and shelter. The wife’s primary responsibility is to take care of the family. And this responsibility should be carried out by mutual consent of both husband and wife.
Social Rights of a Mother:
The only thing above respect to mother is the worship of God. From all the relationships, the mother has the highest respect, even more than the father, because she went through the phase of pregnancy and gave birth. She nourishes the child by giving her milk and later taking care of the family. It is ordered to give her maximum love, respect, and companionship than the father. When a mother becomes old, one should be more loving and respectful and not complain if she is unjust.
Educational Rights of a Woman
Education is the fundamental right of women. The first guidance in the Quran is to read. It is obligatory for everyone to acquire an education, especially daughter, sister, and wife. During the time of Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him), his wife Hazrat Aisha was known as a scholar in medicine and mathematics. She has taught up to 88 scholars and was considered a scholar of scholars. Another example is Hazrat UmaSalma, wife of, was known as the most intellectual woman and considered an authority.
Legal Rights of a Woman
Men and women have the same legal rights. They have the same punishment for the same crime. Women have the right to be a witness. If a woman has been wrongly accused or disrespected, then there is severe punishment for the accuser.
A woman, after marriage, does not have to take the husband's name. This is a common practice in the East and West, but Islam does not mandate it. It is a cultural practice by nations in the East and West.
Political Rights of a Woman
Both men and women are allowed and should participate in public affairs in the interest of society. Women can even take part in lawmaking and can share feedback irrespective of their intellectual status, meaning that they do not need to have an official degree to make their comments as long as what they say is correct and cannot be challenged. They can also participate in the battlefield by taking on roles as needed to support the army.
Vasanti Story
Nussbaum (2011) shares the story of a poor Brahmin woman named Vasanti, in her 30s, living in Ahmedabad, a state in Gujarat, with her husband, who was a gambler and an alcoholic. He used the household money to get drunk and beat her. He became so desperate for money that he opted for a vasectomy and got cash which was a promotion by the Gujarat government to control the population. Due to this action by the husband, Vasanti did not have any children and eventually left her husband. She went to work for and live with her brothers. Brothers gave her a loan and a place where she worked and slept. Vasanti did not like being dependent on her siblings and finally decided to move out. She discovered the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), a progressive organization in Ahmedabad that works with poor women. SWEA gave Vasanti all the opportunities that allowed her to pay back her brothers, learned to read and write, and also started community service by combating domestic violence in her community.
Comparison between Central Capabilities and the Right of Women in Islam
From Nussbaum (2011) and Naik (2015) context Vasanti is a victim who was suppressed by her husband and brothers emotionally, financially, and physically. Nussbaum (2011) suggests that the 10 core capabilities are the minimum threshold that should be provided to everyone. Vasanti husband and brothers should have worked towards enabling Vasanti to be able to use her capabilities and excel in life. Nussbaum (2011) explains two different purposes of the capability approach, namely as a theory of social justice and for comparative quality of life assessment which share essential elements: the principle to treat each person as an end, rather than looking at averages; to focus on choice or freedom rather than achievements; to be pluralist about value, which entails that different capabilities are incommensurable; to be deeply concerned with entrenched social injustice and inequality; and to give a clear task to government and public policy (Nussbaum, 2011, p. 18-19). Nussbaum (2011) capabilities approach is theoretically sound, but it does not provide practical guidelines of how one can achieve these capabilities. This could mean that Vasanti husband and brothers should recognize these 10 core capabilities as the basis and figure out to make sure that Vasanti has access to the 10 core capabilities.
On the other hand, Naik (2015) explanations of Spiritual, Economic, Social, Educational, Legal, and Political Rights sets a threshold for men to know what their role is based on the Quran (Holy Book – last revelation), Sunnah (Authentic practices of Prophet Mohammed, Peace Be Upon Him), and Hadith (Authentic sayings of Prophet Mohammed, Peace Be Upon Him). Men and women are overall equal in Islam, but both have primary roles defined to complement each other. Vasanti's husband and brothers are obligated to make sure that Vasanti can practice her rights as a sister and wife to promote her to exercise her spiritual, economic, social, educational, legal, and political rights. Despite any social, political, or economic conditions of the country, they are not allowed to abandon their primary duties. Quran is considered as the last and final word of God. It lists the threshold for both men and women to live harmonious life. To understand the practical application of the roles, the documented life of Prophet Mohammad, Peace Be Upon Him, his daughter, and wives provide ways for men and women to follow. In modern times, social, political, and economic conditions have changed. Beyond the threshold, it is up to both men and women to decide together how to tackle situations at hand without comprising their primary roles. For example, due to growing Capitalistic societies, it is difficult for an average family to meet basic needs like food, education, rent/mortgage, insurance, car payments, etc. of the family. These conditions do not excuse men from fulfilling the financial needs of the family, but if it is not possible for them to financially support the family, the wife can help if she is willing.??
Conclusion
“?The real wealth of a nation is its people. And the purpose of development is to create an enabling environment for people to enjoy long, healthy, and creative lives. This simple but powerful truth is too often forgotten in the pursuit of material and financial wealth.” (Nussbaum, 2011, p.1). Human development should be a priority of every nation. From my knowledge, no religious or secular country has provided rights to women, as explained by Nussbaum (2011) or Naik (2015). In religious countries, women are dominated and suppressed. While in secular democratic countries, in addition to being dominated and suppressed in the name of art and culture, they are degraded to the status of concubines, mistresses, and society butterflies by pleasure seekers and people who want to capitalize and make profits by using them.
All over the world, women are in the population more than men, and feminist movements continue to fight for the rights of other women. Despite feminist movements and a higher population of women, according to the World Health Organization (2017), they continue to be victimized – sexual assault, rape, domestic violence, inequality at the workplace, and unequal pay – more than men. There are laws in countries to protect women's rights, but men continue to oppress women with fear.
Education is the only way to deescalate these issues. When boys are born, it is imperative that the schools and parents have curriculums that teach boys about the rights of women. Islam has provided a clear pathway for men to follow where in certain aspects of life, women have a higher degree than men, while men in specific conditions have a higher degree than women. Both are meant to complement each other, not compete or create differences, while secular concepts also promote a mindset to honor the rights of women.
?References
Nussbaum, M. (2011). Creating capabilities: The human development approach. Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press of Harvard University.
Naik, Z. [Dr Zakir Naik]. (2015, September 2).?Women's Rights In Islam – Liberated or Subjugated? Lecture + Q & A/ Dr Zakir Naik?[Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/yOm7qJ6mFeY
Obeidallah, D. (2015, January 1).?Are All Terrorists Muslims? It’s Not Even Close. Retrieved from https://www.thedailybeast.com/are-all-terrorists-muslims-its-not-even-close
Toussier, A. (2018, June 7). Who said that behind every successful man, there is a woman?
Retrieved from https://www.quora.com/Who-said-that-behind-every-successful-man-there-is-a-woman
Bindel, J. (2010, April 26).?Why do Western Women Convert?. Retrieved from https://standpointmag.co.uk/features-may-10-why-do-western-women-convert-julie-bindel-islam-female-conversion/
World Health Organization. (2017, November 29).?Violence against women. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/violence-against-women