The role of women, undoubtedly the words “role” and “women” are continuously used as if there is a particular role “specified” for women. Not all women are mothers, nor can they all afford going to University, or have a prestigious lifestyle, which enables them to be educated, to work, and to manage sufficient time for their children. If there is anything for women to learn, be they Muslim, Christian, Jewish, atheist or whatever else they choose to be – is that our experiences can only be used as a standard for ourselves, not others.
One of the errors made in the introduction of this article is the assumption that working, being a mother, and “juggling” all these together necessitates an identity for women. A woman does not need to work or be a mother in order to have an identity – the day she is born, she secures one for herself as a human being. When we use a “role” as one’s identity e.g. mother – in effect we are restricting and limiting the influence of women by insinuating that women should think along the lines of a mother, but in reality not all women are mothers, or workers for that matter. Women should not be marginalized to confirm their identity as a mother – worker – or otherwise, but rather as human beings with the capability to choose their own way of life.
Muslim women have always been vocal about their life choices, and they might not be choices that are praised by other women, or even considered as “choices”. However, the choices which are made by Muslim women in respect to their theological stance on life, for example to veil or not – has attracted much controversy and criticism. The reason why Muslim women are criticised and subsequently controversy has been created is because their life choices are being measured against someone else’s life experiences and secular/or otherwise beliefs. Take for example, a Muslim woman coming from a prestigious and privileged background who subsequently chooses to cover up in France, but she suddenly realises that she is denied the choice to cover up – self-determination and her right of “choice” is denied on the basis of what other people perceive as the right set of choices for her/women to make.
