The empowerment of women, but at what price?

07/06/2012| IslamWeb

It is odd for a Muslim to see the workings of humans against their very own nature. The most evident example of this is demonstrated in the ongoing world movement to “Empower Women." The movement has been gaining momentum and is being endorsed and promoted by various international organizations, particularly the United Nations. Both the United Nations Human Development Report (2002) and the Arab Human Development Report (2002) include goals for "the complete empowerment of women." The Human Development Report even has a gender empowerment measure (GEM) that assesses gender inequality in economic and political opportunities.

 

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women from the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights of the United Nations is the most blatant example of the efforts to alter the unique status of the genders.

 

One of the main objectives of this committee is the following: "Aware that a change in the traditional role of men as well as the role of women in society and in the family is needed to achieve full equality between men and women... States Parties shall take all appropriate measures: to modify the social and cultural patterns of conduct of men and women, with a view of achieving the elimination of prejudices and customary and all other practices which are based on the idea of the inferiority or the superiority of either of the sexes or on stereotyped roles for men and women."

 

As is evident in the statement, this committee outwardly takes aim at religion and culture, expressing the view that "cultural and religious values cannot be allowed to undermine the universality of women's rights." They have said, that "in all countries, (one of) the most significant factors inhibiting women's ability to participate in public life have been the cultural framework of values and religious beliefs."

 

The Committee, in fact, has gone so far as to instruct Muslim nations that they must reinterpret the Noble Quran in ways that will better comply with modern social trends. The CEDAW Committee instructed Libya to alter its reading of the Quran with the following language:

 

... Members felt that the interpretation of the Quran had to be reviewed in the light of the provisions of the Convention and in the light of the current social environment....Efforts should be made to proceed to an interpretation of the Sharee'ah (Islamic Law) that was permissible and did not block the advancement of women.

The Government was urged to take a leading role in its interpretation of the Sharee'ah as a model for other Islamic countries.

 

It is difficult to imagine more treacherous or deliberate attacks on the values of religion, religious life, and the family. The principal goal of these organizations is to eliminate the traditional roles of men and women and replace them with the concept of "equality" or sameness. This is a feminist goal that has been operating during the last 50 years or more. The view of feminists is that women should be freed from the "bondage" of motherhood and allowed to participate equally with men in all aspects of life outside the home (i.e., economic, political, social). Childbearing and rearing are viewed as somehow "ignoble" and are discouraged. The role of motherhood has been denigrated and seen to be less valuable than a career outside the home. Inherent in all of this is a hostile attitude to longstanding notions of marriage, the natural family and the rearing of children.

 

There are some positive aspects to "empowerment of women" such as reducing discrimination, increasing education and literacy, improving quality of life, but with those efforts come the negative aspects as well. The insidious nature of the process is where the danger lies. For while on the face, there are honorable goals, the ultimate consequence is weakening of the family structure; the foundation upon which society is built.

 

A critical look will reveal that "Empowerment of Women" ultimately means that (super) women:

1.     Work two jobs instead of one, having primary responsibility for the home and children even though they also work outside the home.

2.     Often work in male-dominated environments, having daily contact with non-Mahram men.

3.     Are forced to put their small children into daycare, even infants as young as 6 weeks old.

4.     Spend, on an average, only 30 minutes a week in meaningful conversation with their children.

5.     Suffer from depression two or three times the rate of men, along with other types of psychological distress, such as anxiety, stress reactions, etc.

6.     Experience conflict between their feminine traits (e.g., nurturance, deference, affiliation, etc.) and the characteristics necessary for career success (e.g., assertiveness, autonomy, independence, etc).

 

It is not only the women who suffer, but the whole society as well. A look at the self-destruction of nations in the West, where motherhood is devalued the most, provides enough evidence. The murder, the drugs, the abuse ...these nations are crying out for their mothers; for it is the mother who provides stability to the community. It is the mother who will sacrifice all that she has for the sake of her children. It is the mother who will raise righteous children who will benefit society.

 

Allah has created systems with balance and order, and when those systems are disrupted, humans suffer the consequences. The family is a system and it functions most effectively when the laws of nature and the laws of Allah are implemented. Allah Says what means: "Men are in charge of women by (right of) what (qualities) Allah has given one over the other and what they spend (in support) from their wealth. So righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding (the husband's) absence what Allah would have them guard…” [Quran 4:34]

 

Allah has made it clear in this verse that men are the protectors and maintainers of women and He has created each gender unique from the other. This in no way implies inferiority of one gender over the other, but it means that each gender fulfills specific functions and roles. Both roles are honorable and operate in a complementary manner. If Allah had intended for men and women to be equal or then would it be necessary to have genders?

 

For Muslim women, we must realize that we do not require this type of "empowerment" or "liberation"; for the Muslim woman is already liberated. Her liberation comes through submission to her Creator and Sustainer. When we submit to Allah we are liberated from the shackles of our selves and the deceits and trappings of this world. It is the "empowered" woman who works two jobs, both home and outside, who is actually in bondage and in need of freedom.

 

Muslim women have all the “power” that they need in this world and that power is Islam. Allah has given us exactly what we need to be successful in this life and no convention or human law is going to improve upon that. Motherhood is an honorable gift given to us by Allah and no one has the right to degrade that or take it away. In Islam, motherhood is held in the highest esteem, reflecting its significant nature. For, it is the righteous mothers of this world who will build healthy, stable and peaceful communities; not the CEO's of companies.