By Everyone reading this has probably come across at least one time when a man was comparing women to inanimate objects (usually when talking about why they should cover their body and wear a headscarf). But one of the things I can’t stand, even more than that, is women sharing and promoting those kinds of messages.
When I decided to wear the hijab, it was NOT because I was afraid of being ‘picked’ like a beautiful flower, or rotting like a banana without its peel.
A post I recently came across on Facebook sparked this outrage in me again, because of all the women commenting in agreement with it. In a single paragraph, Muslim women and their hijab were compared to the earth and its ozone layer, fresh fruits and their peels (later giving examples of apples and oranges), a sword and its sheath, a pen and its cap, and a book and its cover.
As if all of this wasn’t enough, they concluded by saying, “A woman is a beautiful flower which every one wishes to pick, so she should cover herself with the beautiful hijab.”
No, I’m not joking. I wish I was.
When I decided to wear the hijab, it was NOT because I was afraid of being “picked” like a beautiful flower, or rotting like a banana without its peel. And if I didn’t wear one now, that kind of twisted rationale would certainly not convince me!
Another post that I saw, on the same day, was actually comparing women to animals. This page is run by Muslim women, but is still promoting these ideas. The passage quoted was the words of a man, but these admins obviously approve of the message. Women are categorized into four “types,” in this “important message of the praiseworthy and blameworthy descriptions of women.”
The first type of woman is compared to “a growling dog with rabies, barking and biting.” The second type of woman “bites [her husband] like a vicious snake, and stings like a scorpion.” The third type “eats like a grazing donkey,” and the fourth type is spared from these horrendous and degrading comparisons only because she is the ideal, “praiseworthy” woman.
I’m sure these people would still be somewhat okay with you having a few personal goals and some self-respect, as long as you aren’t like a growling dog, a vicious snake, a stinging scorpion, or a grazing donkey.
Why is she so praiseworthy, you might ask? She is “blessed child-bearing,” speaks softly” to her husband “out of honor and non-conditional respect for him,” is “keen on cleaning, organizing, and rearranging every part of the home,” which she begins before the sun rises, and has “skillful cooking.”
If you don’t exactly fit the description above, I just want you to know that there is still hope! I’m sure these people would still be somewhat okay with you having a few personal goals and some self-respect, as long as you aren’t like a growling dog, a vicious snake, a stinging scorpion, or a grazing donkey. And if you cover yourself like a pearl in its shell, and an apple with its peel.
But don’t get carried away… You still need to ensure that your life revolves around being an ideal wife (by cooking, cleaning, having babies, and “honoring” your husband).
Nice to see someone being honest about it for a change instead of denying that such commentary exists or that it is misinterpretation or worst yet Islamophobia.
If we could have an open and frank discussion about it we might, just might be able to resolve some of the issues 🙂
You’re a regular troll on this site so please don’t hijack our issues to normalise and peddle your own prejudices. We do not want or require or appreciate the validation of a non-Muslim white male dressed in a white saviour cloak to champion our own internal battles. Or for this said male to be under the misunderstanding that he is an ally of the oppressed beleaguered Muslim female and therefore involved in a discussion with what he thinks is wrong with Muslims. Therefore “We” will be having this discussion to resolve this misogyny– but as in amongst Muslim women ourselves.
Furthermore, “we” have never denied that this type of misogyny and caricature exists; “we” as Muslim women have just become more vocal about it and seek to educate other Muslim women and the greater community toward greater introspection. Second, the misrepresentation of women based on how they choose to dress or undress is a global problem and not a unique Muslim one. Perhaps your focus should be on a global level and not just an obsession with Muslim women or “What’s wrong with Muslims today” which seems to be your regular daily routine.
I thought that it was a good comparison…
But your article now makes me think that I may have been wrong. I weat the hijab, but I’m thirteen, and I wore it for my own wishes. So I do support you…?