Islam is often portrayed as the religion of prominent oppression. It is thought that Islam and its laws consist of controlling guidelines wherein the male seek and control over the females. For as long as there has been this image there has been ignorance. Ignorance of accepting the only source of Islam, the media, and ignorance of Islam as a whole is the current for the status of Islam in the west. Some individuals of the western culture, especially Americans, tend to be oblivious to the fact that the view the propagandas view of oppression is far from the truth.

The most common assumption made in the media is that Muslim women are isolated and subordinate to their men. Yet the strange thing is that there are many women converts who talk about the adoption of the Islamic dress code as liberation. They see it not as a denial of sex and sexuality but that these   are treasures to be shared with a loved one and them alone. They are not hidden but rather freed from objectification. Being a Muslim woman, I have experienced both worlds. I have been in the western world unveiled and in the western world islamicly, veiled. I would have to say I enjoy the life of the veiled Islamic women so much more. The sense of liberation you experience is beyond explanation. To be able to draw away from the western culture of how women are supposed to  look and dress in order to be considered part of the norm is a truly a blessing. In modern day America, typically towards the warmer climates young females are told by the media the way to dress is barely clothed. Think of the media today. Especially the music industry the way the depict women as “female dogs” and have them in low cut attire while the males are in jeans and t-shirt or some other modest attire. The way women are portrayed in the media in the western world is not considered objectification and oppression in its own form? Islam is the foundation of a religion of respect. Finally there is a religion who demands the utmost respect towards women and we bash on it? Islam = liberation for women and freedom from the media norm and what is “supposed.

Join now!

In surah 24:30-31 It states the following:

Enjoin the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that is chaster for them. Surely, Allah is well aware of their actions.[30] Likewise enjoin the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their modesty; not to display their beauty and ornaments except what normally appears thereof; let them draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their fathers-in-law, their own sons, their stepsons, their own brothers, their nephews on either brothers’ or sisters’ sides, their own womenfolk, their own slaves, ...

This is a preview of the whole essay