Different But Equal?

Western Society has adopted a seemingly universal understanding of gender equality- men and women are equal and should therefore be treated equally in front of the law. We can all agree on that, right?

However, what many of us tend to forget is that our view on gender roles and rights is only one of many-equally valid?- views out there. It just seems too easy to judge foreign cultural and/or religious practises as unequal and hence unfit for modern society just because they do not agree with out parameters. Who, after all, decides what is just and what is unjust?

Let's talk about one of the major cultural conflicts we are facing in the world today: Islamic vs. Western views on gender equality.

For many Muslims, men and women were created for different purposes, which can be seen in their physical differences. God's intention for a man is to provide for his family, to work hard and manage the financial situation. Women, on the other hand, are created to nurture and raise their children and to manage the household. However, this does not always result in a ban on work for women or a ban on childcare for men. Islamic cultures are extremely pluralistic and colourful in their approach to gender roles and freedoms.

Even more interesting, some Muslim women feel they secretly have an advantage over their husbands, especially when it comes to financial independence. As women are not required to provide for their families, they are entitled to keep their wages to themselves and spend it on whatever they want. Free from any kind of financial burden, these women actually feel lucky to have escaped the responsibilities laid upon the male members of the family.

Can we thus confidently say that Islam promotes gender inequality?

While some Muslim women agree with the gender roles set out in the holy scriptures, others do not, and it's here where the real criticism should start. As long as women are acting out of conviction, nobody should try and change their way of living. If women do not agree with the lives set out for them, they should not be coerced into obedience.

Gender equality can have many faces but underlying all of them is the simply principle of freedom: give every man and every woman a free choice to detrmine what is just and equal in a relationship and you will achieve true equality. 

This way we can be so different but equal at the same time.