Women, Islam and Life in Asia and the Third World

It is fairly common knowledge that Islam is for the most part a patriarchal society. Other than those who worship Mohammed's daughter, Fatima, men are the religious leaders and with few exceptions, political leaders. One still sees evidence of women as second-class citizens in the Middle East lands which are basically Arabic in nature. But, for a while, when the U.S.S.R was a major Communist power, women in Central Asia states like Uzbekistan, found some opportunities for equality. "' Women are losing everything they gained in the Soviet period. In some regions they are practically being sold. Men are increasingly regarding women as objects,' said Svetlana Garfareva, head of the Kyrgyz women's organization 'Vimka' -- the Center of Mass Information on Women in Central Asia , based in the city of Osh in the Ferghana Valley' (Jones 33). Ms. Jones also writes that there is also very little political weight behind women's issues. "The percentage of women in the Uzbek parliament has dropped from 32 percent to 5 percent since 1991. The only woman in the cabinet heads the Office of Women's Affairs" (Jones 33). The article also states that the situation is unlikely to change. For example, the University of World Economy set up by Uzbekistan's President excludes women from the International Relations and International Law department on the grounds they will marry and have children. More than 80 percent of students at the establishment are male.

Neighboring Kyrgysztan, on the other hand, has made tremendous strides. In fact, the nation now has a female President:" Kyrgysztan leader Ms Roza Otunbayeva today etched her name in history as she was sworn-in as the conflict-ridden country's President, the first-ever woman head of state in Central Asia. In a landmark referendum, an overwhelming 90.55 per cent voters in Kyrgyzstan backed a new Constitution to transform the country a parliamentary democracy and strip the Presidential post of its wide ranging powers" ("Kyrgysztan Inaugurates" para. 1).

It is not really surprising for Asia to have women as leaders. Consider Indira Gandhi in Indi and Benizar Bhutto in Pakistan. But political power does not always relate to social equality. The same holds true for women in the workforce, especially women where Muslim are growing. One example: "Advertisements for job vacancies in Ukraine routinely state that women need not apply; 30 percent of Tajik women report that they have suffered from domestic violence; and there are no female heads of large firms in Georgia" (Cronin 1).

While there is some progress among Muslim women in some areas, for the most part, the role of women in Islam is still that of someone subservient, with her major role that of mother and wife, concentrating on family and shunning the outside world: " The role and behavior of both sexes in Islam is prescribed according to ethics and values...The role of the female reflects family and collectivism, underscored by modesty, the honoring of elders, almsgiving, prayer, and belief in God. The status of women is one of reproduction and nurturing of the family, in particular the children. Her worth is not based on her profession, a role which according to Shari'a distracts from her care of the children" (Zentella 350). It will be interesting to see how the upheaval of young protesters in Egypt, Algeria, Bahrain, Yemen, Iran and now spreading Eastward, will affect the role of women in what still is basically a Muslim patriarchy.

Even as much of the world, even the Third World, is developing new technology and is modernizing, the role of the Muslim woman is still a sore subject for many Islamic leaders outside the U.S. Women are still given short shrift when it comes to education in Asia and elsewhere where there is an Islamic presence. Religious marriages are a must and inter-faith marriages often forbidden.

While there is some restlessness among younger Muslim women in Asia and elsewhere, especially where they can see women assuming important political posts, until the veils come off from more than just women's faces Muslim women are still far from the equals of Muslim men.

References:

Cronin, David : " EU: AID FOR CENTRAL ASIA AND UKRAINE NEGLECTS

WOMEN'S NEEDS" New York: Global Information Network

Sept. 13, 2007

Jones, Lucy: " As Islam Replaces Communism in Uzbekistan, Economy

Stagnates, Men Remain 'More Equal' Than Women" Washington:

The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs Nov. 30, 1999

Vol. XVIII, Issue 7, p. 33

"Kyrgysztan inaugurates Central Asia's first woman president"

New Delhi: The Statesman, July 4, 2010

Zentella, Yoly: " An Introduction to Islam: A Sociological

Perspective" Americus: Journal of Third World Studies

Fall 2010 . Vol. 27, Iss. 2; pg. 349 -353

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