This column was originally published in the April 28th, 2012 edition of The Kingston Whig-Standard
One of the great delights of my job is that I get to meet some remarkable and inspiring women, not only in Canada, but from all over the world. The women are passionate about creating change to make the lives of women and girls better. This is arduous and at times dangerous work, but these women persevere against many obstacles, including political tyranny and sanctified patriarchy.
I am not belittling the issues we have in Canada, but we are fortunate, as Canadians, because we have made strides in dismantling patriarchy and have achieved equality in many significant areas of our lives.
It is humbling to hear of what some of these Muslim women have to endure, and how difficult it is to make any progress because of the lack of support from their governments or religious leaders. Yet they carry on!
Last week I was in Indonesia with a group of women under the auspices of the global movement –MUSAWAH. Musawah means equality, and the objective of the network is to change the laws in various countries so that gender equality is embedded in the laws.
Most of the countries, within Musawah, are Muslim majority countries which practice differing Muslim family laws, mostly based on traditional interpretations of jurisprudence.
The purpose of the network is not to change the fundamentals of the Quran, nor to discard religion itself. The purpose is to examine the teachings of the historic schools of jurisprudence and to make these congruent with the values of equality.
These proposed changes are based on the understanding that the traditional interpretations, by well meaning male jurists, did not seek out the Quranic message of equality. Rather, the jurists were understandably influenced by their context and favoured patriarchal interpretations.
The major issues regarding gender equality are linked to the concepts of male guardianship and protection –wilayah and qiwamah – which are fundamental to patriarchy. The implementation of these concepts has led to domination of women and girls and the curtailment of their freedoms.
Of the over 6,000 verses in the Quran, there are some specific crucial verses about qiwamah and wilayah or male dominance. One verse talks of men being guardians and protectors of women and girls, and another verse states that if a woman is “disobedient” then the husband can hit her gently. Obviously this has caused and continues to cause much angst and controversy for Muslims – both gentle men and women. Many scholars, along with the men and women of Musawah, have focused on these Quranic verses to see if the interpretations are accurate and truly convey the message of the Quran.
2.Thankfully, there is room for hope because many current scholars are presenting different interpretations which are more congruent with the message of equality, and with universal human rights.
As one example, scholars such as Laleh Bakhtiar, have spent years untangling the meaning of the one word – to strike –and have concluded that it does not mean to physically hit. Their interpretation does not allow for violence against women and undermines patriarchy.
However, such interpretations are not easily accepted by traditionalists. Any challenge of their authority makes them more intransigent and more rigid. Why would we expect such males to willingly cede their domination and authority, and acknowledge the equality of women?
No group, whether religious males or tyrants, give up their power and control. As Lord Acton said, “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” In the field of gender equality there are far too many examples of this.
I have often wondered if these believers of patriarchy, guardianship and protection also believe that as women are vulnerable and child-like, then they will not be held accountable before God for their actions and deeds. Surely, the men who have taken care of these women in this life, will have to be accountable for their deeds and behaviour in the afterlife?
The saddest part of all this is that too many people – men and women – are seduced by the arguments that God has thus commanded, and these favoured men know what is in God’s mind.
The other day, it was depressing to hear a woman tell me that even if she were distressed by the practices of patriarchy, she had to accept these, as God so demands. When I asked her how she knew this she replied because she has been told this by imams and other religious leaders. To believe that a compassionate and merciful God has not made all humankind equal boggles my mind.
