Running Head: ISLAM - A BETTER SOLUTION THAN FEMINISM 1

Islamic Online University

Bachelor of Arts in Islamic Studies

CNV-101 Assignment (Spring 2019)

Attempt Count: (1)

Full Name: Halima Qaderi Student ID: [10077432]

Topic

2. Research the effects of feminism on the family structure. Propose an

Islamic solution to the problems caused to families by feminism.

Word limit: 1000 to 1400

ISLAM - A BETTER SOLUTION THAN FEMINISM 2

Islam - a Better Solution than Feminism

to Eliminate the Gender Based Discrimination in a Family

Halima Qaderi

Islamic Online University

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Abstract

Why feminism, when Islam leaves no place to discriminations between males and females. Well,

with the huge amount of discrimination which existed and still exists in families and societies

based on gender, Islam has guided humanity to a balanced approach regarding the rights of men

and women in a just manner compatible with their responsibilities. The feminist approach was

supposedly chosen by women to solve the problems females mostly face within families and

societies based on people’s wrong treatment of women. However, feminism caused some serious

problems to the family structure because of the extreme claims of the later feminists. Here, we

will discuss the harms that are caused by the feminist approach to the family. We will also shed

light on the Islamic method of solving those problems.

Keywords: feminism, Islamic solutions, family order

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Islam - a Better Solution than Feminism

to Eliminate the Gender Based Discrimination in a Family

In the Name of Allah, Glory and Praise Be to Allah, the Most High the Most Wise

Feminism in itself is not an evil idea aiming to harm the family system; rather it sees itself as

the solution to the much discrimination which prevails in the case when it came to the women.

However, the fact is that what can be acquired with wisdom cannot be achieved through hate.

And feminism is inadvertently causing hate. Yet nowadays, the extreme forms of feminism with

unjust demands and ideology are more prone to create dislike towards the real roles which are

assigned to the women. It makes them want the rights that are not meant for women because of

the responsibility that comes with them and because of the negative effects it causes to the family

structure. Still, in Islamic system of family and rights, the women and men are given their rights

in a just and equitable manner leading to a harmonious family with a balanced structure.

Feminism as a general concept was adopted to stop the violations of the women rights.

Gradually it demanded more freedom and rights to the women. Although demanding more rights

than before is not a bad thing in itself, and especially it is essential in cases where there is

injustice occurring. For example: in the past women did not have the right to vote, which was

unjust. The ideology that men and women should have the very same rights is problematic. The

problem lies in the demand of feminists that women should be involved in the society with same

roles of the men, whether or not it suits their nature and capability regarding the extra

responsibility that comes along with it.

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Besides, feminism is causing hate for men. “Note the resentment, even when men are

attempting to be kind. Dunham is voicing the 21st-century version of the 1970s slogan: “A

woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle.” Without denying the beneficial effects of

feminism, we are overdue for a reckoning about its missteps. One of those was stoking such

bitterness between men and women.” (Charen, 2018) It makes evident the feminists’ extremism

in their approach.

While the feminists claim total independence for themselves and regard themselves as in no

need of men in their life, we cannot refuse the importance of the roles of both men and women in

a family where they complement and complete each other. It is nonetheless important to note that

their resentment towards the men is a consequence of their demand to have the same rights with

men, and when those rights overburden the women with more responsibility it causes them

frustration. Hence, making them want men to experience and share with them the pressure of the

responsibility of the women, which in some cases the man is not willing to carry and in other

cases it is impossible for him to carry, for example: for a man to experience the state of child

bearing and pregnancy is not possible.

Furthermore, the later feminist mindset also devalues the role of the marriage and their idea

that women can live on their own is causing trouble to many females as well as families. “While

there is near-universal agreement that women should be treated equally in the workplace and in

the family, other aspects of the feminist agenda — such as devaluing marriage — have left

women more, not less vulnerable than they were pre-revolution… It should not be anti-feminist

to recognize that men and women do need each other and that, contrary to feminist theories,

marriage is a key pillar of stability for both sexes and especially for children.” (Charen, 2018)
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Why should women disregard the rights and tasks that are special to them? There are already

rights specific to females with responsibly which are different than those of the males and best

suited to their natural capacity and strength – both physical and psychological. The disorders in

the family structure caused by feminist ideas is because of the roles of the men and the women

getting confused and overlapped, women not being able to do their obligations while competing

with men and fulfilling the responsibilities that men are obliged to fulfill. We know, for any

organization the management is of huge importance, likewise, in a family structure each member

is assigned somewhat different jobs according to their ability for them to build a successful

family together.

Islam is a better solution than feminism because it does not damage the family order rather it

preserves it. “Almost all feminists agree that “gender” is socially constructed. This means that

gender roles are learnt rather than determined by biology” (Thompson, 2014). However, Islam

says that men and women are given various roles based on their biological nature. Islam does not

consider women lesser than men by giving them some rights different than those of the men.

Islam has given men and women same rights in most things, like, the rights of children that they

should be treated equally within the family, the right of education, the right for choosing one’s

spouse, and more, regardless of their gender. Also a woman can work outside her house and

make a career while keeping in mind the Islamic moral values and also working in an Islamic

environment, which is also required in the case of men.

Susan Carland says in her article about Islam and feminism, “much of the non-Muslim world

appears dismissive of the value Islam can have in Muslim women’s lives — and truly aghast at

the notion it could play any role in eradicating the sexism in Muslim communities.” (Carland,
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2017). Yet, in Islam a man is not the standard for the woman to be followed; rather men and

women have got some specific rights special to them. Usually, people can best focus on their

task and do it to the best of their ability if they are clear on what they have to do. Likewise, the

solution Islam offers to the problems caused to family order by the feminist ideology is by

offering men and women clear roles in the family and encouraging them to live a life

complementing each other, living with harmony and peace, and each valuing and admiring the

rights Allah (SWT) has given them.

Some examples of the Islamic way in which family structure and responsibilities are

maintained are the following: 1. while the mother is carrying the baby for long time in her womb

with difficulty, the father is obliged to take care of her as well as the child before it is born and

after, with emotional care and also it is his responsibility to work and bring for them provisions.

2. The man is considered the guardian in a family because it is he who works hard to be able to

afford for the family’s expenditures and he knows how much effort it needs to earn halal income.

So if he has the final say in the home regarding financial decisions, or otherwise, while

consulting his wife, also in accordance with the perfect rules of Islamic shariah, will it not be the

best decision he will take for his family.

In short, the injustice which took and still takes place with the females in different ways

would not be there if Islamic ideals are strictly followed and acted upon. Although, feminism has

some good aspects to it when it comes to its attempt to prevent the violation of women rights,

when we weigh the harm it has caused to families then we must say that the harm outweighs the

good in it. And indeed there is no need for the idea of feminism in Islamic context because the

laws of Islam are sufficient to grant the women their rights and preserve a balanced and proper
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family structure. And the rights of the women in Islam are so high and precious and sometimes

higher in status than those of the man, like in the case of the mother who has been given three

times rights than that of the father.

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References

Carland, S. (May 11, 2017). Islam and feminism are not mutually exclusive, and faith can be an important

liberator. Retrieved from http://theconversation.com/islam-and-feminism-are-not-mutually-

exclusive-and-faith-can-be-an-important-liberator-77086

Charen, M. (July 7, 2018). Feminism has destabilized the American family. Retrieved from

https://nypost.com/2018/07/07/feminism-has-destabilized-the-american-family/

Thompson, K. (Feb 10, 2014). Feminist Perspectives on the Family. Retrieved from

https://revisesociology.com/2014/02/10/feminist-perspectives-family/