Women and Islam

When one looks at the writings and practices of Islamic fundamentalists, the most revealing psychological component is their belief about and practice towards women. This is significant not only with regard to them, but to us all.

Starting with the origin of the species, men, based on their ignorance about childbirth and their desire for sex, have feared, needed and consequently hated women. Since men, generally speaking, are physically stronger, more aggressive and more violent than women, and since might almost always triumphs over reason, men have gained a dominant position in the world. They have virtually always used this power to subjugate women.

Over time, western civilzation has come to the grudging realization that this is wrong and has institutionalized measures to prevent such abuse. However, the continued prevalance of rape, domestic violence as well as the widespread lack of economic parity, show that this aspect of civilization is a desperately thin veneer covering a cesspool of atavistic rage.

In the world of Islam, even this veneer is absent. While claiming its sanction from the Koran, the real root of Muslim's abuse of women lies in that ancient ignorance and fear which is the legacy of us all. It is no accident that, in their critique of the west, our "liberated" women are seen as the greatest sign of our decadence and evil.

Islamicism is locked into a psychological state which harks back to the "dark ages" of the west. It has cut itself off from learning, from rationality, and from the very possibility of growth. Until their children receive secular education, until their culture embraces the hundreds of years of knowledge which they now reject, until they become able to compete on an equal economic footing with the rest of the world and, most importantly, until they learn to stop hating women, there is no hope for, them, and, I fear, for us.
- posted by Martin Eagle @ 10:34 AM