A R C H I V E S
Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| (Re)Defining Feminism |
|---|
| merimda |
| 01/04/04 at 04:41:45 |
| Salam Just curious to know how many sisters (and brothers) here would identify themselves as feminists? If you consider yourself a feminist how do you define feminism? For those of you who do not consider yourselves feminists I'm also curious to know why you don't. Insha-Allah I'll give my thoughts later, if I have the time. salam, JAK merimda |
| 01/04/04 at 04:42:58 |
| merimda |
| Re: (Re)Defining Feminism |
|---|
| Kathy |
| 01/04/04 at 22:47:42 |
| [slm] [quote] Main Entry: fem·i·nism Pronunciation: 'fe-m&-"ni-z&m Function: noun Date: 1895 1 : the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes 2 : organized activity on behalf of women's rights and interests[/quote] According to this definition... gotta say... Sometimes yes I am a feminist like in #2, sometimes no re:#1.... like the whole equal thing... grates me wrong... |
| Re: (Re)Defining Feminism |
|---|
| Madinat |
| 01/05/04 at 00:55:35 |
| [quote author=Kathy link=board=sis;num=1073209305;start=0#1 date=01/04/04 at 22:47:42] [slm] According to this definition... gotta say... Sometimes yes I am a feminist like in #2, sometimes no re:#1.... like the whole equal thing... grates me wrong... [/quote] salaams, i know what you mean. i see myself as having an equal, but DIFFERENT role. neither ROLE is more important then the other, i.e: bringing up kids and home versus providing for and protecting said home. this day and age, especially in the west where gender roles are so muddled you've got people moonlighting as ......well that's another topic. i just wish gender roles were more discussed in feminist's rhetoric oh yeah, i consider myself a feminist by the way |
| 01/05/04 at 00:56:08 |
| Madinat |
| Re: (Re)Defining Feminism |
|---|
| Laila_Y_A |
| 01/05/04 at 11:33:43 |
| [slm] As one who was reared in a typical 1950's home in the USA, I am basically non-feminist. However, there are a few things that make me quite strong in the opposite direction: 1. spousal abuse- physical, mental, sexual; 2. child abuse- ANYONE'S child, any form of abuse/neglect; 3. paying me less for the exact same job as a man because "he has a family to support" >:( - so do I, a single mother. Islam has given me rights as a :-), and this country has given me rights by law- and if any are breached, then I will come up fighting mad, weilding the cast iron skillet- yep :-[ I guess I am one! [wlm] |
| Re: (Re)Defining Feminism |
|---|
| Maliha |
| 01/05/04 at 14:31:41 |
| [slm] As a Muslima, I am prompted to *re* define Feminism before I can call myself one. I think its too simplistic to decide whether I am feminist or not, based on the western concept of what it is. For the issue is not whether you are Pro women rights (anyone would agree to this) but what kind of rights are we talking about. I remember reading about the Civil rights era when African American women were called by white women to join their movement. There was a great divide, as for the first time the African American female was being pitted against her husband. From what I read, most of those who abstained couldn't relate to the issues the whites were fighting for, as they were still dealing with the bigger umbrella of racism etc. (also historically the african american female was always treated better). For Muslimahs as someone mentioned a lot of the basic rights that spawned the women movement, we were already granted with, in the religion. The problem of course comes to the implementation, ignorance, and the societal issues surrounding the safeguarding of the woman's right. For myself, the struggle is surrounding the issues of educating the woman and the society she is in, to inform her of her rights *within* the Islamic and *family* context and *not* outside of those folds to claim her own *individualistic* rights. I don't like the form feminism in the west has taken in the past couple of decades. I don't like the face put on the cover for the average Muslim woman feminists who take their cue from the west and start berating us on whether its necessary to wear Hijab and whether we need to really listen to our husbands or not. Its dumb. sorry i have bigger issues to worry about. The problem is you can't take the western concept of feminism and apply it like a cookie cutter across different cultures, religions and soci political dynamic issues. In view of the perception of who a feminist is, I prolly don't fit (hee hee anyone listened to my treat ya hubby right lectures would testify ;) ). But for real, I can't stand it when any one's rights are infringed upon and I would take a similar stance when it comes to defending my brothers and sisters rights anywhere on the globe. there goes my long winded response for ya meri:) nice seeing ya around by the way :) don't call me no feminist sis, :-) [wlm] |
| 01/05/04 at 14:32:47 |
| Maliha |
| Re: (Re)Defining Feminism |
|---|
| Halima |
| 01/06/04 at 07:19:38 |
| Feminism as per Halima's perception of the word: the right for women to defend themselves and their rights (very simplistic?). But what are these rights? Islam already covers women's rights as no other entity. So, when do I defend feminism with the claws of a lioness? When men try to overlook the right of a woman in the Islamic context and decide to use traditional perpectives and beliefs to peg their own brand of a woman's right. And when do I shun feminism? When we women bend it totally out proportion by obnoxious behaviours like; we can do literally everything men can; like men have to respect us first before we can do the same; like miss-using our rights to make a point; like totally forgetting you are woman that you start acting like a man, YUCK! So what am I? A feminist or not? I guess both in my case if that is possible. Halima |
Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board |