AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): In an academic meeting Dr. Maryzm Ghazi Esfahani said: It’s necessary to provide a suitable model for women activism in cyberspace and social networks. But the ideal model for a Muslim woman is neither eastern nor western.
Tuesday, January 11, 2022, with the efforts of the Office of Islamic Studies on Cyberspace (OISC) the eighth live webinar titled “The Ideal Model of Muslim Woman Activism in Cyberspace” was held.
The meeting was organized by the Office of Islamic Studies on Cyberspace (OISC), by the cooperation, Heyatonline, ABNA News Agency, and the Representation of the Supreme Leader in Farabi Campus of the University of Tehran.
At the beginning of the meeting, Shaykh Mahmoud Rafian the scientific secretary of the meeting said: Cyberspace has transformed almost every aspect of our lives. With the vast growth of new communication technologies, many changes have taken place in societies. Therefore, knowing and understanding this space is essential for women and mothers who make up half of the population and are important members of family and society.
Referring to the unique role of some women in historical periods, Mahmoud Rafian said: According to chapter Tahrim the 66th Surah of the Quran, Asiya, the Great Royal Wife of the ancient Egypt’s Firaun (Pharaoh) and Maryam the mother of Jesus have made great changes in history and society. So much so that God has made them role models for believing men and women. Therefore, the activity of Muslim women in society and cyberspace is essential. But it seems that the effective activity of Muslim women in cyberspace is very low and is not comparable with their population and presence on the Internet, and is more limited to showing the photo of the veil and promoting the veil in this way.
The scientific secretary at the meeting then introduced the speaker of the meeting and said: Dr. Maryam Ghazi Esfahani has PhD in culture and communication from Baqir al-Uloom University. Now she is a translator and instructor of specialized communication and media courses in the university and Islamic seminaries. She teaches media literacy and media theory courses as well. She is also in charge of the Nasim Hedayat English Propagation Group affiliating with the Isfahan Islamic Propagation Office. Dr. Maryzm Ghazi Esfahani has written or translated several articles and notes on cyberspace. These include:
- Translation of a part of the book Communication between Cultures entitled “developing religious tolerance in cyberspace”
- Effect of internet on our culture
- The pattern of enjoining good and forbidding evil in cyberspace
What is activism?
At the beginning, Dr. Ghazi Esfahani explained the concept of activism.
She said: Online activism means sending and receiving content and messages and being explored exposed to various content in cyberspace. It’s clear that action is opposite of behavior but what is the difference between the action and behavior?
In response to this question Dr. Ghazi said: Action is purposeful and conscious doing but behavior may not be conscious and purposeful.
Cyberspace and modernism
Dr. Maryam Ghazi continued: It’s obvious that cyberspace is a tool of modernism has affected people lives. Cyberspace doesn’t seek to share only true content but share anything whether wrong or right. Therefore we should be aware of the harms of this space and be truly active. Cyberspace has changed the culture and lifestyle of Muslim women and reduced practicing Islamic rules and religious values. So it’s necessary to provide a suitable model for women activism in cyberspace and social networks.
Women Activism in Cyberspace
The speaker of this meeting explained the two patterns facing women and then the third pattern. She said:
Two ways of women activism in cyberspace are:
- According to the eastern model
- According to the western model
What is the eastern model for women activism in cyberspace?
The eastern model represents a woman who has a passive personality and has little influence on society, her rule is not important and influential and she is only a consumer. Media audiences are divided into two groups: passive and active. Passive audience is influenced by the massage send through the media. This audience doesn’t have the power to analyze communication massages; according to the eastern model women in cyberspace have passive attitude.
What is the western model for women activism in cyberspace?
In contrast to the eastern model, the western model claims that the women are important and respected and women try to act in a way that they have equal rights with man. But the truth is not this. The truth is that the west has raised the issue of women liberation and freedom in order to use women in its own purposes.
What is the ideal model for women activism in cyberspace?
The head of Nasim Hedayat group said: According to Islamic model, men and women regardless of their gender should be on the path of growth and perfection. In Islamic model women are active audience and have a creative and meaningful rule. The third model of Muslim woman activism is neither eastern nor western; it has been named the third model of the woman in the word of supreme leader.
Women’s activity in society in the words of Ayatollah Khamenei
Ayatollah Khamenei said: “There is no difference between men and women on many issues. Islam looks at men and women as human beings. There is no difference between men and women on the issue of humanity, spiritual positions and the many intellectual and scientific talents that they have. But they have two different molds. Each of these molds is shaped for a particular task. Of course, there are certain common tasks among them.The west has established an unfair equation in society under which the men are the beneficiary and the women are the benefit, and based on the equation, the women must act in such ways as to satisfy the beneficiary. This is the most immense oppression ever against women.”
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