Matthew+Ferry

= = = Religion and Sexism =

In religion, Woman are faced with many issues. They have been seen and treated as lesser throughout history. The three religions I will be exploring and showing you are, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. In each of these woman have been lesser to many and not treated as human beings, but as lower life form. they've had rights taken away from them and forced to do actions that have influenced current day stereotypes and issues the begun the woman's rights movement. I will point out how they have been outcasted from Education and Childbirth.

= Education =

**Christianity:** This was taken from the bible and is how woman being educated.**"Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection."-Timothy 2:9-15**The translation of this is, "Woman are allowed to learn, but aren't allowed to speak." They are allowed to learn, but aren't allowed to ask for help or hear their opinions voiced, as if their opinions don't matter? It reminds me of woman's rights within the last one hundred years. They aren't allowed to have their voices heard and aren't allowed to have open opinions. Why teach one, when you don't want to hear and communicate with the one that you're teaching? It doesn't make any sense. Woman lack the ability to have opinions heard.

**Judaism:**

**This quotes is taken from the Torah and is about education of woman.** "And you shall teach them to your sons, that sons, but not daughters, are obligated to study Torah." -Devorim 11:19 **Woman aren't allowed to study the Torah. The were born into their religion, but aren't allowed to study or use the knowledge that is within their scared script. Only the sons are allowed to study the Torah, and then that means only the Fathers will be allowed to teach it to their children. The Mother wouldn't be able to help them study it, because they wouldn't know it themselves. They wouldn't know the ways of their religion or the stories that create and make-up it. They wouldn't be able to argue rights that they have or have their opinions heard on certain topics. Why would someone continue to be part of a religion that they lack so much knowledge, because the religion won't allow them to study the script?**

**Islam:** This is a quote that is Directly from the Prophet Muhammed himself. **"To seek knowledge is obligatory on every Muslim."-Shaikh Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen Al-Albaani.** From what the Prophet said, "All Muslims are entitled to an education." No matter what Gender or race they are, they're entitled to it. When Muhammed was around they were entitled to it, and they still are, but Muslim extremist make it extremely difficult for them to get one. The extremist go against what Muhammed said. While men are able to teach woman at home religious and academic education, it's up to them, they may or may not. Muhammed made education equal for all men and woman, but extremist are attempting to take it away. Why would Extremist not want a woman to be educated? "A Woman in Islam Has the Right to Get an Education.

= Childbirth =

**Judaism:** This quote was taken from, Deuteronomy 22:28-29 from the Old testament, **"If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found; Then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel's father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife...."-Deuteronomy 22:28-29** It means that, "If a woman is raped, she must marry her attacker." The woman is forced to marry her attacker. If the attacker impregnates her, she is suppose to have the child as well. The woman has no right in this situation, if a man wants to marry a woman that he desires, he could easily rape her to gain her hand in marriage, even if it's unwanted. That means, that they'd also have the child if they were to be impregnated. Woman lack the right to choose.

**Christianity:** This was taken from the Christian bible, **"Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean.** **But if she bear a maid child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her separation: and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying threescore and six days." -Leviticus 12:2-5** If a woman has a son, she will be unclean for seven days due to how weak she will be after birth. If a woman has a daughter, she will be unclean for two weeks, she will also have to wait sixty-six days to be purified from her bleeding. It's almost as if she gets punished for bearing a female child? Because she has a female child, she has to wait twice as long to be cleaned and won't get any help for her bleeding for sixty-six days. It's almost as if, if you have a female child you did it wrong and you have to suffer because of that. They lack the ability to control if it's a boy or girl and they're punished if it's a girl? Then, they also won't be cleaned for 2 weeks or aided with their bleeding for sixty-six days? It seems as it they want the mother to die because of this. It seems as if females weren't very highly thought of in Christianity. If they have a female child, the mother will not get help for 66 days. and the daughter may learn, but she may not speak in school. Woman were seen as material objects instead of people.

**Islam:** This was taken from the Qur'an and is about what happens when a family has a female born child. **"And when the news of a female is brought to any of them, his face becomes dark, and he is filled with inward grief! He hides himself from the people because of the evil of that whereof he has been informed. Shall he keep her with dishonor or bury her in the earth? Certainly, evil is their decision."-An-Nahl 16:58-59** Will he keep his child with dishonor or will he kill his child because she's a girl? You would you kill your own child because it's woman and why would you raise it with dishonor? It came from you and thus is a part of you. Would you dishonor a part of yourself or kill a part of yourself just because of how it was born? "**"Certainly, evil is their decision"** They killed their child because it was a female. Woman weren't thought of as human beings or not as beings that deserved to live. Surely, having a female child in the Islam community is much more extreme then in the Christian community. The Christians don't kill their child or raise it with dishonor, but just have the mother suffer for a brief period of time.

= = = **Larger Idea** =

**Education:** Woman weren't entitled to a complete academic education in either Christianity or Judaism. In Christianity, they were entitled to an education but couldn't speak. In Judaism they weren't entitled to any sort of education, whether it was for academics or if it was to study the Torah. Islam was much different then the other two. All Muslims were entitled to an education, in-fact it was required for them to get an education by their religion, but due to Extremist today, it's very hard for Muslims to get an education. Woman in all three religions have/had it difficult to get an education. Many men attempted to make it so that woman wouldn't be capable of getting an education, so that they wouldn't be able to read Holy manuscripts and learn more about their religion and the rights that they should have.

**Childbirth:** Childbirth takes on differences between these three religions. In Islam, if you have a female child, one may kill her or raise her with dishonor. In Christianity, the mother will go unclean for two weeks and won't be aided for her injuries for sixty-six days. In Judaism, if a woman is raped, she must have the child. It's hard to say which is worse, having your child get killed because it's a female, or possibly dying from your wounds because you won't get medical aid for sixty-six days. In both of these religions, someone is bound to get the short end of the stick. If you had a male born son instead, you'd raise them with honor and you'd be clean within 7 days and granted Medical Aid right away. The only way to get proper care is if you have a son.

= = = Sources: =

"//Women's Rights In Islam//. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Oct 2010. < [] >.

Kahn, Rabbi Moshe. "Reprinted from Ten Daat Vol. III No. 3 pp. 9-11." //Jewish Education for Women//. Rabbi Kahn, n.d. Web. 31 Oct 2010. < [] >.

Robinson, B.A. "Passages treating woman as inferior to men." //THE STATUS OF WOMEN IN THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES (OLD TESTAMENT)//. Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance, 13 Sept 2006. Web. 31 Oct 2010. < [] >.

Hooge, Orland. "Sexism in the Bible." //Naturalism and Religious Experience (A Summary)//. Orland Hooge, 4 May 2005. Web. 31 Oct 2010. < [] >.

"A Woman in Islam Has the Right to Get an Education." //Women's Rights In Islam//. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Oct 2010. < [] >.