Women Education in Muslim Societies

A general perception is that women have very low status in Muslim societies. Similarly it is assumed that Muslims put more emphasis on educating their boys than girls. A Pew survey shows a very dissimilar picture to such stereotypes. In eight predominantly Muslim countries, an overwhelmingly majority of Muslim respondents stress equally on educating the boys as well as the girls, showing that Muslims also realize the significance of education for both sexes.

There are several such misconceptions about women status which are wrongly attributed with the religion. Muslims emphasis on education for girls shows that they know women play significant role in the development of any society as a family member and as a citizen of the state. It is misperceived that women in Muslim societies are debarred of their fundamental rights and it is due to Islam. It is not to claim that women in Muslim societies do not have any human rights problem. It is to note here as well that several women become the victim of brutalities each year in Muslim societies just as they face similar problems in any other society. But it should be made clear that abuses against women are not due to Islam rather the root cause of these abuses lie in the cultural heritage that Muslims inherited from pre-Islamic societies. Had it any ideological reasons than no Muslim or very small minority would have supported equal education right for girls. By increasing literacy rate in Muslim women, awareness level among Muslim women will increase and they will be able to defend their rights more appropriately if any thing goes wrong.

Nevertheless negative perceptions about Muslim societies are very common. Are women really not enjoying basic rights in Muslim societies? What is the possible reason for such negative perception? Is it western media that shows such pictures of women in Muslim societies?