Women in religon

Roles Of Women In Religion

Roles for women have always been practiced in religions. All primitive & some modern ones still set rules on dress & behavior, but many vary among societies. Moslem women in Saudi Arabia can't drive or look men in the eye when talking to them, unlike neighboring Kuwait, they can. This paper will focus on roles & attitudes about women in Islam, Judaism & Christianity.

ISLAM
Islam sees women, whether single, or married, as individuals with the right to own & dispose of property & earnings (Islamic Affair Dept. 1989). Moslems often set rules for their women on how to dress, act, what to cook & how they should be educated.

Traditionial dressing of Moslem Women depends on the country's customs. Moslem law states that men & women are to dress modestly & dignified (Islamicc Affair Dept. 1989). Women must cover their heads (sometimes their face) & 3/4 of their body.

Traditionial Purdash customs allow women to live in zenanas (women secluded quarters), cover their whole body with cloth (no one is to see them, except their family), not to work & to be inconspicous. In many parts of the Moslem world men can beat & sell women. This happens in most parts of Africa & Asia. Although the Quran doesn't allow women to be mistreated it often happens in most Moslem Societies. The mistreatment of Moslem women is not a Moslem tradition it depends on the culture a person is born into

Marriages are allowed by Moslem law. A man may have more than one wife if he can support them financially, sexually & mentally. He must also treat all his wives equal. Women cannot have more than one husband at a time but Moslem law allows her to leave him if he miss treats her. But few do because of financial reasons.

Judaism

Judaism has always been a male dominated religion. Orthodox Jewish women are often viewed by Non-Jewish women as Jewish Princess. In fact most Orthodox Jewish women are not pampered & don't have a nanny & a maid to do their housework & take care of the children.

In Judaism women are taught Jewish laws by a Rabbinit Zohora (rabbi's wife). Although she's the highest level a Jewish woman can become, most common women don't feel that she's important.

Jewish women must take care of the children, provide emotional support for the family, prepare food & clean the house. Most Orthodox Jewish women describe their lives as fulfilling & happy.