Islam does not oppress women

I’m sure it will be productive. I will be arguing the Islam does oppress women. Importantly, I do not need to prove that Islam oppresses women generally i. e. in most cases. Even if there is only one instance of oppression of women, then Islam oppresses women, even if there are many more instances of liberation. Oppress: to burden with cruel or unjust impositions or restraints [1]. Hijab (“modesty”) “Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: And Allah is well acquainted with all that they do. ” (The Quran 24:30) [2]. “And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband's fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or the slaves whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex; and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O ye Believers! turn ye all together towards Allah, that ye may attain Bliss. ” (The Quran 24:31) [2]. From the two pieces of scripture quoted above, it is clear that although both men and women are required to dress and behave modestly, the requirements are greater for women. Specifically, women are required to wear a veil, they are only allowed to reveal their body to certain people, and they are prohibited from moving their bodies in certain ways if the intent is to draw attention to certain parts of their bodies. Islamic scripture does not burden men with the same restraints. Thus, Islam oppresses women because it does not allow them the same degree of sexual expression. Paying the Cost to be the Boss “Men are in charge of women by [right of] what Allah has given one over the other and what they spend [for maintenance] from their wealth. So righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding in [the husband's] absence what Allah would have them guard. But those [wives] from whom you fear arrogance - [first] advise them; [then if they persist], forsake them in bed; and [finally], strike them. But if they obey you [once more], seek no means against them. ” (The Quran 4:34) [3]. In simple terms, this means that a wife must obey her husband, and if she does not, then her husband may beat her. This is apparently fair since the husband is charged with the responsibility of feeding and clothing etc. his wife. I argue that the imposition of these set gender roles is unjust because it is biased in favour of men. Indeed, only the husband can ever be the boss (notwithstanding that he must “pay the cost to be the boss”) and, ultimately, the wife must obey her husband’s commands, or else be beaten. Thus, Islam oppresses women because it does not give them equal say (or even equal opportunity for equal say) in their marital relationships. ConclusionI have put forth two examples of how Islam oppresses women. These examples come directly from scripture, and they clearly show that women are burdened with unjust and cruel restraints and impositions under Islam. Pro will need to refute both of these examples in order to show that Islam does not oppress women. If he cannot refute both examples, then Islam oppresses women. [1] . http://dictionary.reference.com... [2] . http://www.muslimaccess.com... [3] . http://quran.com...