AhlulBayt News Agency

source : ABNA24
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18 May 2023

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Swiss researcher: Demands of Muslim women in Western countries, their challenges and difficulties

Swiss researcher: The issue of women in the West; challenges and difficulties

An interview with researcher Ms. Esther Benmansour-Müller from Switzerland about the demands of Muslim women in Western countries, their challenges and problems:

Demands on the West on the women's question:

Since religious freedom is anchored in the legislation of most western countries, Muslim women demand full acceptance of the hijab, Islamic women's clothing, whether this is in the private, public and professional world. Once a girl has reached religious maturity, there should be an opportunity to wear the hijab, whether that is in elementary school, secondary school, high school or in an educational institution (apprenticeship). The same applies to sporting activities, whether at school or privately.

We also demand that not only the new modern gender education is recognized, but that Muslims have the right to raise their children in an Islamic way, with all its rules. Since the West is very tolerant towards people of all orientations, whether transgender, homosexuals, atheists or other religions/cultures and these ways of life cannot be criticized either, we as Muslims demand the same rights so that we can live, educate and work according to Islam.

The unconscious suffering of the western woman:

Western women are under enormous social pressure. She should have a career, get married, have children, be a good mother, organize the household, take care of the children, be a good wife, sporty, well-groomed and attractive, always dress fashionably and have a trendy hairstyle. However, she should also spend enough time with her children, otherwise she will quickly be considered a bad mother. She shouldn't be prudish either and should be able to ignore men's sexist jokes and put up with a lot from strange men, but she shouldn't flirt too openly either, otherwise she'll be seen as cheap. In western society, housewives and mothers are no longer recognized and respected as such. Certainly the women themselves are to blame for this, since they absolutely wanted to have the same rights and duties as men.

Women have achieved that they are now slaves of fashion, makeup industries and plastic surgeons. Having to work much longer than before so that they can give free rein to their desires and then simply abort the unborn beings in their bodies. That is Western freedom, but the price for it is very high, the number of woman murders in Switzerland, also known as femicides, is very high in Switzerland and is increasing every year. Domestic violence against women is also very widespread, psychological problems, depression and so-called burnouts are the consequences, which of course also affects the children.

Balance of rights of men and women in Islam:

In Islam there is equal rights for men and women, but no equality between men and women, but the respective roles of men and women are divided according to the natural fitra (disposition that we have received from Allah swt.). Thus, in a marriage, living together is a team game and not a competition between the sexes. Family life is therefore more harmonious, happier and forms a sheltered and lovable home for the children.

The woman has enough to do with the upbringing of the children, household, religious activities, etc. Without the enormous pressure of responsibility, society and the male world. Of course, women are also allowed to work in Islam as long as it does not harm family life and they are willing to do paid work.

Different social roles of women:

However, not much has changed in the social roles of women in the West, even if more and more women are employed, one can still see that women are more likely to be employed in social or service occupations such as teachers, nurses or as commercial clerks. The scientific professions are still predominantly a male domain. The media certainly has the greatest influence on changing social roles, because the media not only portray women, they also produce an idea of how women should be, whether their physical appearance, their lifestyle, their standard of living, etc. A Women in the west should correspond to the general ideal of beauty, but great importance is also attached to education and employment.

In Islam, women have exactly the social role that is tailored to their natural disposition and their abilities. The woman in Islam is not given too much responsibility, so that she is not under enormous pressure and thus keeps a healthy and positive personality and can develop it further. In Islam, women have the opportunity to be active in science, politics, society, religion, law and culture through their education, without having to conform to the media pressure of the ideal of beauty in public, they can concentrate freely on their abilities.

Gender – view of women in the west:

From the point of view of the 6,000 Swiss women who took part in the survey, equality has developed well overall, but the greatest need for action is still in the world of work. Equal pay, compatibility options, advantages for men: These terms mainly show where - 50 years after the introduction of women's suffrage in Switzerland - there are still problems. 60% of the women surveyed state that there is no real equality in professional life in Switzerland. Young working women (25-34 years old) are the least satisfied: they did not live to see the introduction of previous measures like their mothers or grandmothers (voting rights, marriage equality, abortion rights, etc.).

Finally, almost three quarters (72%) of women believe that men in Switzerland have more advantages overall. Many young women are overwhelmed by today's gender situation in the West, as traditional roles are becoming more and more mixed up. The women also no longer know the real reason why they were hired by an employer, is it really because of their qualifications or because of the women's quota that various companies should comply with. Then there is all the gender madness in the language, in the schools and above all, of course, in the media.

11. January. 2023 / Esther Benmansour-Müller, Switzerland


 (The views expressed in this report are researcher’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of ABNA24.com)




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