Use of Patriarchy and Religion to Oppress Women Essay -- Islamic Women

Evil, sinful, lover of Satan ar just a few adjectives utilise to describe women throughout history. Nevertheless, women were not always portrayed as so. Women at once held a strong and dominated figure within the nine. In the antediluvian Egyptian society, women were equal to men in status and prestige. Within the XVIIIth Dynasty, women much(prenominal) as Nephertiti and Hatchipsoot reign the country In that period, Pharaonic women labored in textile and carpet manufactory, traded in markets and shared in hunting side by side with her husband (El Saadawi. 1980, p, 108-1). Furthermore, women played sports, drank, held positions of government, worked, etc. However, as while past and countries began to flourish, there was a shift in the socio-economic status in women. Women began reducing in standing. What Happened? Nawal El Saadawi, author of The Hidden Face of eventide, potently call backs that circumcision is the cause of womens oppression and feelin g of powerlessness. However, m either within the society believe that conditioned oppression is supported due to religion, landowership and the time-honored dodge and they are utilized as in instrument of fear, oppression and exploitation.Circumcision is still expert in many Arab countries because a womans virginity and hymen is extremely important. Behind circumcision lies the doctrine that, by removing parts of girls external genital organs, sexual desire is lessen (El Saadawi. 1980, p. 33). This procedure is not performed by a doctor but soulfulness similar to a midwife. It is believe that deep incisions must(prenominal) be through in order to remove all the remains of the genital. Consequently, this may payoff in infection and even death. Furthermore, sexual frigidity is one ... ... patriarchal and class societies prevalent at the time. Nawal El Saadawi focuses on the patriarchal system as a major condition for the oppression of women. The shift surrounded by man and woman began when men realized the importance of land owership. gay recognized the association between land and having wealth and power. Landownership places them in a higher social, economic and political arena. In acquiring land, man must have someone to cultivate it since it demean their status within the society to do. The oppression of a slave and women became apparent. Wives were a source of wealth since they elevate many heavy tasks in both field and home without expecting any payment in return apart from their keep. Their lot was that of unpaid laborers no better off than slaves (El Saadawi. 1980, p. 111).Work CitedNawal El Saadawi, The Hidden Face of Eve