The recent ban on the niqab in the French parliament and the attempt of Conservative MP Philip Hollobone to initiate a ban in the UK, coupled with the subsequent media furore, has exposed some glaring contradictions.
If politicians, the media and social commentators care for women and believe that their world view facilitates the emancipation of women, then why have they focused on a cloth that covers her body rather than focus on the contemporary facade effecting women in the west. In Britain, for example,
Domestic Violence
- 1 in 4 women will be a victim of domestic violence.
- Two women are murdered every week by a current or a former partner.
- In any one year, there are 13 million separate incidents of physical violence or threats of violence against women from partners or former partners.
- 1 in 5 young men and 1 in 10 young women think that abuse or violence against women is acceptable.
Empowerment and Self-esteem
- 66 % of women in the UK would consider plastic surgery because of concerns about their looks.
- 63 % of young women aspire to be glamour models or lap dancers.
- 54 % of women became aware of the 'need' to be attractive between 6 - 17 years of age.
Unequal Pay & Employment
- In 2006, female graduates earned, on average, 15% less than their male counterparts at the age of 24; with this gender pay gap widening with age increasing to 40.5% for women graduates aged 41-45.
Prostitution
- There are estimated to be around 80,000 people involved in prostitution in the UK. However, many people believe that this figure is an underestimation.
- A 2002 study found that 74% of women involved in prostitution cited poverty, the need to pay household expenses and support their children, as a primary motivator for entering sex work.
Mental Health
- The NHS reported in 2009 that more than one in five of the adult female population experiences depression, anxiety or suicidal thoughts.
Poverty
- Many older people, especially women over 75, experience severe poverty due to institutional failure, as levels of state pensions are determined according to years of employment.
- One in five single women pensioners live in poverty. In 2004, almost 1.3 million older women lived below the poverty line and suffered significant financial disadvantage - compared with men of the same age.
Safety
- Research published in 2006 identified that women aged 16 or over are 5 times as likely as men to feel very unsafe walking alone in their area after dark.
Child Abuse
- An NSPCC prevalence study in 2000 found that around 21% of girls surveyed experienced some form of child sexual abuse. The majority of children who experienced sexual abuse had more than one sexually abusive experience.
“Muslim men and Muslim women, and Believing men and Believing women, and devout obedient men and devout obedient women, and truthful men and truthful women, and patient constant men and patient constant women, and humble men and humble women, and charitable men and charitable women, and men who fast and women who fast, and chaste men and chaste women, and men who remember God much and women who remember God much – God has prepared for them all forgiveness and a great Reward.” The Noble Qur’an 33:35
Let the positive discussions begin!
Related Post
References
http://www.wrc.org.uk/includes/documents/cm_docs/2010/i/inequality_briefing_final.doc
http://www.womensaid.org.uk/core/core_picker/download.asp?id=1602
Posts
4 comments:
:) Great
Brother Hamza, your analysis on the niqab ban shows the ugly head of "Secularism Failing Humanity" once again.
The utter hypocrisy of The French showing their true nature and how insane they are. Let me show you how...
On one hand, the French cater for a minority section women, who CHOOSE to take all of their clothes off for men to look at them, doing it for financial reasons only, subjigating (can't spell this word) themselves to men's dominance, will and desires - despite the majority of their populace finding this as degrading and dehumanising. The French government does not have a problem and allows these women their "human rights" - obviously forgetting the human wrongs!
On the other hand, they do NOT cater for a minority section of women, who CHOOSE to put on all their clothes, including their faces, so men do not look at them, doing it for spiritual reasons only. If the French populace knew these women put niqab out of their choice - will they find these women's choice degrading and dehumanising?
For these women, the French government does HAVE a problem and wants to stop their "human rights", at the same time saying they are committing "human wrongs" stating that they are being under the dominance and will of men.
What kind of justice is this? which philosophy or ideology will back them up and say the have been fair here?
Obviously, one can point to them fulfilling their desire to ban "religious symbols" and their percieved degradation of women. What happens if these women turn round saying "my intention is not for religion, but as a personal choice" - what will happen then?
I find it amazing that no body is fighting for the right of oppressed nuns and sister clergy-women who are also 'forced' to cover up their heads and bodies!
its really heartening to see a confident Muslim living in the west and standing for islamic values while articulating things in a logical way mashallah. May Allah bless you immensely for all the good work you are doing! Alhumdulillah brother Hamza is an inspiration for youth like me.
Post a Comment