Gender Equality is a facade. Gender Equality is simply there to be taking at face value, without any practicality incorporated into it’s foundation. Although it may sound like a well-refined, logical and rational concept – it is, in fact, the pure opposite.
Gender Equity is the utter antithesis of a facade. Gender Equity is simply there to be used practically, and not exclusively conceptualized. Although it may sound almost identical – it is, in fact, the more logical of the two.
What is the difference? When we look at the definitions; “Equity is giving everyone what they need to be successful. Equality is treating everyone the same.”
At first glance, neither may sound at all harmful. However, when we acknowledge that Males and Females were not conceived as a singularity – we begin to see the flaws in this mindset. Rather – when Males and Females are combined, and work together respectively, then we are one, The Human Race.
Men and women are simply different. We are physically and mentally different. Although there may be some feminine Males, and some masculine Females – we generally understand that we are different. When we begin to let go of our own biased and subjective view points; this ‘differentiation’ is made painfully clear. How would society look if we were to treat everyone the exact same? Would it be a society that encourages harm or endorses logic?
Men are better than Women at some things, and Women are better than Men at some things. Is it that much of a shock that we were not meant to be perceived as the “exact” same? Is it that much of a shock – that hurtful to one’s ego, when we comprehend this simple, solitary fact?
Furthermore, what does Islam have to do with any of this?
Absolute equality doesn’t work with Islam; as men and women are different, mentally and physically. For the genders to become ‘Absolutely Equal’ under the guise of Gender Equality – we need to emasculate women and feminize men. Although this is generally speaking, this is a digestible fact. We can see Gender Equality being used in things such as competition. For example – “Transgender MMA Fighter Fallon Fox beat her female opponent Tamika Brents so severely that she suffered a broken skull.” Whether you like it or not – Men are generally stronger than Women physically. Yet again, it’s the way we were made – and we should accept that.
If we look back to the prior definition of Equity – “Equity is giving everyone what they need to be successful” – we can see that this is 100% compatible with Islam. Islam gives both the genders, women included (before the West even began to give Women simple rights), Absolute Equity.
Women, in Islam, have been given everything they need to be successful – Women are treated fairly. Whereas Men, in Islam, have also been given everything they need to be successful – Men are treated fairly.
‘Islam raised the status of women, and made them equal with men in most rulings. So women, like men, are commanded to believe in Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) and to worship Him. And women are made equal to men in terms of reward in the Hereafter. Women have the right to express themselves, to give sincere advice, to enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil, and to call people to Allah. Women have the right to own property, to buy and sell, to inherit, to give charity and to give gifts. It is not permissible for anyone to take a woman’s wealth without her consent. Women have the right to a decent life, without facing aggression or being wronged. Women have the right to be educated; in fact it is obligatory to teach them what they need to know about their religion.’ – IslamQA.
“And they (women) have rights similar (to those of their husbands) over them to what is reasonable, but men have a degree (of responsibility) over them. And Allaah is All-Mighty, All-Wise” [Al-Baqarah 2:228]
And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “I urge you to treat women well.” Narrated by Al-Bukhari, 331; Muslim, 1468.
Al-Bukhari (5971) and Muslim (2548) narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: A man came to the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and said: “O Messenger of Allah, who is most deserving of my good company?” He said: “Your mother.” He said: “Then who?” He said: “Your mother.” He said: “Then who?” He said: “Your mother.” He said: “Then who?” He said: “Then your father.”
To conclude, although Men and Women are different, in many ways – and we do some things better than each other, it doesn’t mean we should treat one gender as superior to another. Islam does not give an excuse for people to have altruistic beliefs against Women. Islam does not give an excuse to people to have hatred for Women and look at them with utter contempt.
Islam teaches respect and kindness towards the Genders, and that we should still respect each other, despite having differences.
All I ask is that people look at the differences between Gender Equality and Equity with an open mind, and see the harmful influence of the former.