Human society, regardless of modern of primitive, always remained male dominated where women had secondary or even less stature. Why human society was male dominated? As per women psyche, woman wanted to be caressed, loved, and protected, thus, majority of women believed that men were strong, brave, and more intelligent that women, therefore, men had ample capacities to entertain women needs. The very self-surrendering attitude then propelled women to secondary place whilst directly creating a male dominated society. Many men do not marry a woman who was much educated than a man or was older than him, since both things challenged manhood (not biological one but mental one i.e. I am the man, therefore, I rule, I prevail, I am superior, and I needed to marry a younger female).
In addition, every religion was introduced by a male i.e. Vishnu, Buddha, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Ahmed….and as a result male dominated society was born. Why religion wasn’t introduced by a woman, does it mean that God’s gender was male and He wanted to keep male domination—does it mean that woman weren’t capable enough to lead alike man—does it mean that God wanted male dominated society—does it mean that introduction of religion by man was an effort to limitise woman to just a commodity or secondary and unimportant object—or does it mean that male from primitive times wanted to dominate and prevail that denoted his psyche and inferiority complex. If woman had introduced some religion, then it could have created female dominated society that could have challenged manhood.
Furthermore, advent of religion played a very impressive role in establishing male domination that resulted into gender discrimination, which treated women as commodity rather than a sensitive (having feelings, emotions, thoughts) biological living being. As per Islamic beliefs, in heaven, a man will get 72 heaven girls, including his worldly wife or wives. On contrary, such promise did not exist in Islam for women. Moving ahead, according to Jewish folklores, Lillith, the first wife of Adam, turned into a demon on God’s curse as she disobeyed Adam, thus, through the story of Lillith, women were enslaved by the concept that obey husband (no matter what) or be prepare for dire consequences. Indian women called their husbands “pati” that meant owner, for example “lakh pati” someone who possessed 100,000 India rupee. Now even if there was some Hindu goddess, then she used word “pati dev” for her husband. The concept that husband is owner of wife or wife is a personal property of husband also contributed in gender discrimination.
The Manusmriti, also known as Manav Dharam Shastra, is the earliest metrical work on Brahminical Dharma in Hinduism. According to Hindu mythology, the Manusmriti is the word of Brahma, god of creation and member of Trimurti alongside Vishnu and Shiva, and it is classified as the most authoritative statement on Dharma, right way of living. The very word of Brahma egged immense gender discrimination among Hindus, for example
“It is the nature of women to seduce men in this (world); for that reason the wise are never unguarded in (the company of) females. For women are able to lead astray in (this) world not only a fool, but even a learned man, and (to make) him a slave of desire and anger.” Manusmriti: 2.213- 214
“He who is famous for (the strict performance of) his duties and has received his heritage, the Veda, from his father, shall be honoured, sitting on a couch and adorned with a garland, with (the present of) a cow (and the honey-mixture).” Manusmriti: 3.3
Now Manusmriti in its chapter: 3. 8-12 & 14-15 & 17-18 would dictate, whom a “famous man” must marry,
Manusmriti goes on about women whilst not making them merely a commodity but also declaring them as abhorring as dog, pig etc, for example
“Food offered and served to Brahman after Shradh ritual should not be seen by a chandal, a pig, a cock, a dog, and a menstruating woman.” Manusmriti: 3. 240
“A man, aged thirty years, shall marry a maiden of twelve who pleases him, or a man of twenty-four a girl eight years of age” Manusmriti: 9.94
Other derogatory passages against women could also be found in Manusmriti 4.43-44, 4.217, 5.150-151 & 157-158 & 160 & 167, 8.364-365 & 369-370, 9.3 & 6 & 8 & 13 & 15 & 18 & 58 & 60 & 70 & 77 & 80 & 177
Furthermore, Hindu widow faced great discrimination in Indian society where she was forced to wear white saree, she cann’t wear colourful dresses or jewelry, her presence in religious ceremony was considered inauspicious even she wasn’t welcomed in parties, she wasn’t allowed to remarry, higher caste Hindu widow was supposed to dedicate the rest of her life for religion and hence her head was shaved. In addition, Sati ritual existed in Hindu society where widow was burnt along with her dead husband on his funeral pyre.
Apart from paganism, gender discrimination was also borrowed from Abrahamic religions for example,
“Men are in charge of women by [right of] what Allah has given one over the other and what they spend [for maintenance] from their wealth. So righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding in [the husband’s] absence what Allah would have them guard.” Quran: 4.34
“In my opinion it is right for a woman not to be a teacher, or to have rule over a man, but she must be silent. For Adam was first formed, then Eve; And Adam was not taken by deceit, but the woman, being tricked, became a wrongdoer.” 1 Timothy 2:12-14
An Argentinean catholic woman, Jacqui Lisbona, was banned from getting married in a local church as she wanted to marry a divorced man; furthermore, the local pope told her that she is living in sin [1]. Later, Pope Francis told her that nothing was wrong in taking Holy Communion. Hindus believe that a widow cannot be married since she has transformed into a curse or she is not less than an evil, but Catholic Church wasn’t different from such kinds of irrationalities too as a couple could not get married in church since woman wanted to marry a divorced man, how ridiculous it is? If religion was to ease up things, then why it had made things too complicated especially in regard of gender discrimination? But gender discrimination does not involve only religion since our society is also responsible for the very evil e.g. the US Senator Elizabeth Warren had publicly admitted that women are treated differently than men in Washington [2]. Thus, neither religion nor third-world was responsible alone over the issue of discriminative attitude towards women because it also involved our society as well. In conclusion it can be said that man is man no matter which region he belonged or a woman is woman regardless which world she dwelled in. Men and women were actually equal in discipline of human beings, therefore, there must not exist any gender discrimination. As every man is not as talented as other man, similarly, man and woman can vary in their talents but having less or much talent does not make someone secondary or superior as a living being.
Writer: Shahid Mehmood Khan
Foot notes:
1: Pope Francis ‘tells sinner she should be allowed Communion’. The Telegraph, 23 Apr 2014.
2: Elizabeth Warren On Whether Women Are Treated Differently Than Men In Washington: ‘Yep.’ Huffington Post, 23 Apr 2014.
Note: Al-Rasub is not responsible for writer personal opinion
Tags: article, Gender Discrimination, Manhood, religion, society
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Dear Wasif Sahib,,, ur conclusion i.e.
***I would say that the whole article has been produced seeing things with one eye****
well, would u pls prove ur claim in anyway or u just ignored that I had mentioned that religion is not alone responsible for gender discrimination since it has involved our overall society as well as psyche of men and women.
And one can not deny that religion has nothing to do in causing discriminating attitude towards women. Whereas i have mentioned other examples, i also have quoted ref from Hinduism and Abrahamic Religions. Pls tell me if my quotations are wrong and pls also tell me what they really suggest?
thus, i would feel sorry by saying that my sincere analysis, study, & observations were mis-judged by u as u in an indirect way labeled me somehow a partial or unjust or enemy of religion. Moreover, u stated that “Adam was given satisfaction by creating of Eve” well what kind of “Satisfaction” we are talking about i.e. companionship against loneliness, bodily satisfaction or something else?
moreover, i would also like to request u that since u have mentioned that “we have to give the share of the property to the women of our family”, therefore, what percentage of “Share of the property” is given to sister, wife, and mother? Pls be specific in this regard and i am afraid u will not be able to prove it that an equal share (as given to brother, son, father) from property is given to a Muslim woman by her Muslim Family? I hope i will get answers from such a learned Islamist.
Regards.
This is an amazing piece of information and the article is very much helpful in understanding the problem of gender discrimination.If men would understand that women are living being then many of our problems will easily get resolved.
I wonder when we know about problems then why we do not streamline ourselves? The article is wonderful and it appears that writer belongs to no religion as his viewpoint is so much impartial.
Thanks a lot to all those who either liked or commented on my article. Regards
East or West— Islam is the best
@Liiliana, thanks a lot for ur appreciation and yes when we want solution of some problem, we have to think rationally and without any partiality or affinity. Gender discrimination is a prominent problem of entire world and we will have to correct ourselves for futuristic betterment. Thanks again and regards.
@Elena Alexandra, men and women both are required to resolve problems of this world and gender discrimination is one of those problems as well, therefore, i hope that men will correct theirselves where they are wrong and will behave like gentleman who knew how to treat a woman. Thanks for ur appreciation, regards
I am an European working women and when I read about the observation of the US Sen. Elazibeth Warren about gender discrimination, I could not stop thinking that no matter how advance West is, gender discrimination exist there. I have seen how men pressurize those women who are of lower cadre.
God created Eve from Adams ribs. Ribs are the most delicate bones of human body. This very fact reflects that a woman is supposed to be delicate. Why prophets were not women is because Prophethood required an arduous life where they had to undergo many difficulties only to be borne by men. As we all know, primitive society lived by hunting which was carried out by men because men are physically stronger. That man is physically stronger does not mean that he is superior. Soul has so physical entity but it the most superior. In fact, man has exploited his physical might in the most selfish manner. Religion Islam has nothing to do with it. Molvis have again exploited religion to try to establish mans superiority. In fact, for the reason that a woman is finer, delicate, refined in taste and possesses subtle beauty, man felt insecure in front of her; the wilder of them propagated and tried to establish the wrong idea that man is superior to woman. A home is the mini world which is only governed by a woman, as we can see. Man is responsible for doing outside work and bringing in money. That it’s a male dominated society is also correct. As I said from the very beginning man has been subduing woman out of a sense of insecurity. Besides, as the proverb goes, might is right, physical might, I mean. Here, I just said right, not rational. Had man been patient, considerate, logical and rational, it would have been a different world completely where lamb could play with the lion, poor would dine with the rich, and all would drink from the same source of life.
I will take discrimination in a way that both male and female are part of society. In Islam both have equal rights. They are discriminated on the basis of their roles in the society. As males are dominant bcaz of their leading capabilities which are given by Allah. From Adam a.s to now males proved their selves good leaders, males have more risistive power than a female. Although in today’s society women are also seen as leaders and are also contributing their efforts making a successful, developed and civilized society. Beside all the superior capabilities we can not ignore the capabilities, efforts and contributions that a woman has to make a good civilzed society. Without women society can not a civilized. Both are integral part of society i think.
@Liiliana, i have no reason to doubt ur observation as it is psyche of men that they thing theirselves superior and intelligent…This was the reason that i have written in my article that woman will remain woman no matter what region she may lived in. Men consider theirselves as an authority over women and majority of men consider women potatoes.
Farhat Saleem, thanks a lot for a ur excellent treatise….Might is Right is the law of the jungle and the very jungle has been sitting in men’s hearts and minds from the very start i.e. stone age when men used to hunt, thus, from that moment on till the day we are living in, our society is governed by MIGHT IS RIGHT…
Farhan, u r right that both male and female are important part of our civilisation….U have mentioned that “males are dominant bcaz of their leading capabilities”, well i do not know whether it is true or not as i have seen many women far talented than me…Now ur view point is accepted for a moment, then having mighty capabilities do not make somebody superior…a talented being can not be called superior over anybody….regardless of talent or attributes, men and women are equal and none must forget this….
@Asim Nabeel, well u r Muslim that is why u r saying that Islam is best. but a Hindu will defend his religion, a sikh will defend his religion, a Jew will defend his religion, a christian will defend his religion. Follower of any religion will advocate and prefer his particular religion.
This is a well-researched article and very much informative. very few people dare to write such kind of things especially when it is about religion.”
@Raja Zia, thanks a lot for ur appreciation. Our society needed light and i tried my best to bring a little ray. Regards
well done shahid .you are doing so good .Keep it up.i am with u.
@Janjua Rajpoot, so many thanks bro for ur support and appreciation.
1: Mr. Shahid i know everybody will defend his own religion that is why i defended my religion that is Islam.
I have studied the article and it is appreciated that the writer did not attack on any religion. He just tried to find out roots of gender discrimination.
This article is indeed a brave and bold writing.
When writer mentioned Abrahamic religion then i remembered Leviticus: 12.1-5 that said
“The LORD said to Moses, “Say to the Israelis: ‘A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her monthly period. On the 8th the boy is to be circumcised. Then the woman must wait thirty-three days to be purified from her bleeding. She must not touch anything sacred or go to the sanctuary until the days of her purification are over. If she gives birth to a daughter, for two weeks the woman will be unclean, as during her period. Then she must wait sixty-six days to be purified from her bleeding.”
Nice work
we need porgessive society and we can get it only by thinking rationally.
Gender discrimination is a fact and in conservative societies, it is in an uncontrollable and unbearable evil that is swallowing social harmony, security, and equal opportunities.
And sorry i forgot to pay thanks to the writer who wrote such an impressive article on such a difficult topic that is considered heretical to many people.
@Usmaan Saith, thanks a lot for appreciation…U just figured out a wonderful solution of many of our problems as u suggested that we need to be rational. Right on the mark. Regards
@U r right that gender discrimination evil is damaging our society, causing security problems as women get more insecure, and v often women are not given equal opportunities as they were women. We all are subject to understand that all are equal and all are special, thus, none is greater and none is smaller. Hail to awareness.
Dr Rubina Paracha. please forgive me as i too have forgotten to pay u thanks. so many thanks for commenting and appreciating my effort. Kind Regards.
@Asim Nabeel, so many thanks for once again sparing time for my article and so many thanks for ur appreciation. Ur knowledge of Abrahamic religion is also fantastic and urs Torah reference is also a proof that religion had contributed in egging gender discrimination. thanks a lot for shedding more light on my article. Hope to hear more from u. Kind regards and once again so many thanks.