Team Forming for UIL Current Events Info Meeting Th 8:30 –or- 3:50

1/ STEREOTYPES HW TURN-IN: MAPS VIDEO: 30 Days: Muslim in America NOTES: Women & Islam

Women & Islam

1) The status of women in Islam is that they are EQUAL to men before God... TECHNICALLY

2) According to the KORAN, men and women are two units of a PAIR. "O mankind! We created you from a single soul, male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, so that you may come to know one another. Truly the most honored of you in God’s sight is the greatest of you in piety “(Quran 49:13). Meaning that they are not the same, but they complement each other in numerous ways both in mental, physical and emotional qualities.

3) Muslim-Majority Countries have produced more than 7 female heads of state. Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan, Mame Madior Boye of Senegal, Tansu Ciller of Turkey, Kaqusha Jashari of Kosovo, Mefawati Sukarnoputri of Indonesia and Bangladesh with Khaleda Zia & Sheikh Hasina.

4) How many American Women have been Heads of State? ZERO

*5) SHARIA (ISLAMIC LAW) Sharia is ISLAMIC LAW, based on the KORAN. It provides for differences between women’s & men’s roles, rights, and obligations. Muslim Majority Countries give women varying degrees of rights with regards to marriage, divorce, civil rights, legal status, dress code, and education based on different interpretations. Although very limited, Koran expressly gave women rights in Southwest Asia that the had not had before, such as rights of inheritance. The key is WHO gets to INTERPRET the Koran & Sharia Law!

6) “Conservative” Muslims argue that differences between men and women are due to DIFFERENT RESPONSIBILITIES.

6) “Liberal” Muslims & Muslim feminists argue in favor of more “UPDATED” INTERPRETATIONS of the Koran & Sharia.

Some see the veil as empowering for women, as in this cartoon from Pakistan where a girl gets her superpowers when she puts on her burka to fight injustice.

FASHION SHOW

MENSWEAR

TAQIYAH - A crochet cap that covers most of the head. Worn by Arab men. It can also be a round, sewn cotton cap that is embellished with embroidery. In Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka it is called a TOPI. In West Africa, it is called a KUFI.

IGAL - a part of the headdress for men. Often they are made of a black rope-like cord. They are worn atop the head to help keep the GHUTRA secured.

KUFFIYYA, GHUTRA, or SHMAGH A checkered scarf often tied with IGAL. Can be styled into a turban or worn loosely over the head.

7) THAWB – is a long, cotton, robe-like mens’ garment. Mostly seen in the ARAB world.

UNISEX

8) SALWAR KAMEEZ is a traditional dress worn by both women and men in SOUTH ASIA (mostly Pakistan, India, & Bangladesh). Salvars or shalvars are loose pajama-like trousers. The legs are wide at the top, and narrow at the bottom. The kameez is a long shirt or tunic. The side seams (known as the chaak) are left open below the waist-line, which gives the wearer greater freedom of movement.

WOMENSWEAR

All around the world, black is always in fashion, but do all Muslim women wear black? Do Muslim women wear a veil? What is the significance of the veil?

What’s With The Veil? ? ? The tradition of women wearing a veil of some sort in SW Asia pre-dates Islam. Islam encouraged that tradition to strengthen and continue.

*9) What the Koran Says About Veils Technically, the Muslim veil is considered a CULTURAL NORM rather than a COMMANDMENT, although in many regions women are legally required to wear a veil. The style of the veil varies from place to place – many times it also varies depending on how wealthy & educated a woman is. The basic idea is to PROTECT FEMALE BEAUTY. Koran Sura O prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters, and the women of the believers, to wrap their veils [jal ā b ī b] close round them. It is better that way, they can be recognized but not annoyed. God is forgiving and merciful. Koran Sura And say to the believing women that they cast down their looks and guard their private parts, and display not their ornaments, except those which are outside; and let them pull their kerchiefs over their bosoms and not display their ornaments save to their husbands and fathers, or the fathers of their husbands, or their sons, or the sons of their husbands, or their brothers, or their brothers’ sons, or their sisters’ sons, or their women, or what their right hands possess, or their male attendants who are incapable, or to children who do not note women’s nakedness; and that they beat not with their feet that their hidden ornaments may be known. But all turn repentant to God, O believers! May you prosper.

In many ways the veil is a fashion statement that not only shows a woman’s religious devotion, but also tells a lot about the part of the world she’s from, how wealthy she is, and her outlook on life.

NOT all Muslim women wear a veil – some only wear one for religious occasions – others choose to not ever wear a veil. From Texas Muslim Magazine

Many Muslim-Majority countries women are not required to wear a veil (Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan) Queen Noor of Jordan Turkish Women Serving in Parliament Lebanese Student

Some countries, like Iran, women were once free to choose whether or not to wear the veil, are now required to wear a veil because of changing political and cultural forces. Before the Islamic Revolution in Iran After the Islamic Revolution in Iran

Many Muslim women in western countries are not forced to wear a veil, but CHOOSE to as a symbol of their faith and culture, even though can make them a target of harassment. French Muslims Demonstrating for the Right to Wear a Veil

Although some women freely choose to wear a veil, there’s no denying that in some areas it is used to control women and harshly limit their freedoms… but that’s true of non-Muslim regions as well

There are numerous different versions of the veil throughout the world – they’re a window into that specific culture and location.

10) The word HIJAB comes from the Arabic for veil and is the generic term used to describe the headscarves worn by Muslim women. These scarves, regarded by many Muslims as a symbol of both religion & womanhood, come in many of styles and colors.

The Al-Amira is a two-piece veil. It consists of a close fitting cap, usually made from cotton or polyester, and an accompanying tube-like scarf. The Shayla is a long, rectangular scarf popular in the Persian Gulf region. It is wrapped around the head and tucked or pinned in place at the shoulders.

Chador - an outer garment, traditional in Iran, that covers the head and body and is a full length semi-circle of fabric but comes down to the ground. Does not have slits for the hands and is held shut with the hands, teeth or simply wrapped under the arms.

11) ABAYA - A type of outer garment from the PERSIAN GULF region which covers from the head to the feet. It is also becoming increasingly common amongst the conservative women of Pakistan.

Jalabiyas Traditional outer dress for Bahraini women, now generally worn for special occasions.

The Niqab is a veil for the face that leaves the area around the eyes clear. However, it may be worn with a separate eye veil. These women are from Turkey. The niqab attracted the attention of British cabinet minister Jack Straw, who said he would prefer that Muslim women not cover their faces. It is worn with an accompanying headscarf.

12) The BURKA is the most concealing of all Islamic veils. It covers the entire face and body, leaving just a mesh screen to see through. It is most common in AFGHANISTAN and tribal areas of PAKISTAN

To Veil –or- Not to Veil?

Former American Secretary of State, Condalisa Rice

American Reporters Anne Curry & Diane Sawyer

Princess Catherine, US Soldier, Hillary Clinton (as First Lady & Secretary of State), Laura Bush (First Lady)

First Lady Michelle Obama in Indonesia & Saudi Arabia

Nile River

Fertile Crescent

Religious Composition of SW Asia

Oil & Gas Production/Pipelines

Oil Transportation Chokepoints

Persian (Arabian) Gulf

Strait of Hormuz

Suez Canal

ASSUMPTION Something taken for granted or accepted as true without proofMISPERCEPTION Something perceived incorrectly or MisunderstoodGENERALIZATION Reasoning from detailed facts to general PrinciplesSTEREOTYPE A generalization, usually exaggerated or oversimplified and often offensive, that is used to describe or distinguish a group.