This article discusses how Muslim and Arab women are typified as weak, battered women due to their culture and the stereotypes placed on Arab men. I think that as a people in the U.S, we tend to see Arab and Islamic men as embodying the terrorist ideals; it's only natural therefore that we feel compassion for the women that these terrorists live with. Since we typecast them as such horrendous people, we shudder at the disposition of the wives and young girls that get abused by them. When a terrorist activity or a crime is committed, we tend to label them as "Islamic/Arab/Muslim fundamentalists or extremists." By including the word 'Islam' as their primary identity, we start identifying Islamic with crime and evil. In actuality, the Islamic religion is a very peaceable one that believes in the equality and support of women. In fact, in one of the Prophet Muhammad's last speeches, he illustrates:
"Treat your women well and be kind to them, for they are your partners and committed helpers."
Don't get me wrong, the situation in the Middle East is very chaotic, with injustices being committed to all sorts of men, women, and children. What begins to irritate me is when people blindly blame their religion for the domestic problems these people have. There is nothing wrong with the Islamic religion; it preaches equality for both men and women. The problem lies in the extremist factions that begin drifting away from their most basic of moral values. Our view of what a terrorist represents has been skewed ever since the 9/11 attacks. I don't think this necessarily means we are bad people, we are just misguided in our thoughts. The Islamic culture is a very rich and beautiful one; we shouldn't blame it for being the cause of these extremist groups.
image from http://goatmilk.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/british_muslim_women.jpg
