Panel presentation
to debate the question, from an atheist, secularist feminist Point of
view to Muslim Women:
What
Will Liberate the Woman?
By Sue Mayer
The
short answer is - for women
to understand where the ideas that motivate and justify
robbing women of their rights to autonomy, freedom and equality –
come from? The
even shorter answer is
‘Getting rid of patriarchy’ The longer answer is HOW it underlies all the feminist issues
of
Autonomy, Freedom and Equality. Which would take too long for this
meeting. But
the current issues are:
·
The
killing of
women and children, in sectarian conflict, in war, insurgency and
terrorism ·
Criminal
exploitation mostly by men of women trafficking for sex or labour. ·
Inequality
in the
workplace, pay and pensions and
representation. ·
FGM,
Femicide and
selective abortion of girl babies, and the lack provision of sexual and
reproductive services. Reported 21/03/13: Julia Gifford, apologises
to the thousands of mothers in Australis, whose babies were
forcibly taken for adoption because they were born out of wedlock as
late as the 1960s
And
I am not going to address the question as an Islamic phenomenon
-because it applies to all patriarchy.
. .. . In All the
patriarchal religions - Judaism, Christianity
and Islam I want to get
to the
root causes of the attitudes,
and motivation that drives this
controlling behaviour. That
as an atheist I believe run Patriarchy is a male supremacist ideology Patriarchal Religions are male
supremacist
organisations – that influence cultural institutions. They
are based on the ownership of women and
children by men. As written by men. Religons are
elitist
organisations Their
religion - as superior
to those of others – They promote
ELITISM & PREJUDICE
based on race, religion, colour, class and
gender. Tribal
Markers. So useful to
ruling elites. However you
look at them. . .
. These
religions are built on
the idea of universal brotherhoods. The
belief in, worship of and obedience to an
Almighty, Omnipotent Father God in heaven and his chosen people on
earth. Men. A
step on from the sun gods of the earliest times. In
works in the family, in the workplace and all
aspects of society except domesticity. This makes it
impossible for many men to assume
that women are equal to men or have the same rights and choices. They
Create and Sustain patriarchy because it
advantages them. With men
deciding what is
good for women, what they should wear,
how they should behave, where they should go, what they should do and with whom. & this is where the
distorted attitudes to women and sex come in. This does for
- any notion that women
should have control of their own bodies, on social, sexual and
reproductive
rights decisions. The
history - is of servitude,
subservience, submissiveness and domestic
service for women. And
conflict and
domination by men.- And the subjugation and obedience of woman to the
men who
are responsible for their upkeep. Like pets to their owners. Of kind or cruel subjugation and fear of
punishment
for non-compliance and to deter rebellion. Patrarchy
is coercive and like all authority is has
to be enforced, reinforced by threat of
security, or fear of punishment. Women
have been kept in ignorance refused the same educational opportunities
and training that has kept them out of government, administration,
academia, science and education. and many other opportunities to
participate in society. Women cannot be
free from the control of the men who own
them unless
patriarchal ideas are seen for what they
are. Power and Control.
Why has it been so successful? Come to be considered to be ‘natural’- 'Part of God’s plan? and therefore 'Unchangeable' ? - attitudes that make it so difficult to challenge however much evidence there is.
2) The recognition of the value
of religion to political elites, rulers, kings, tyrants and dictators.
With
whom it has
colluded in oppressing their underclasses.
Women’s Rights and Children’s
Rights are Human Rights I would like
to say a few
words on education It is being
used as the
panacea for women’s empowerment, but it is a two edged sword. Women who
become educated do
not always become feminists or egalitarians. In fact the
opposite is often
true. You are a
selected, and self
selected group of women. You are
advantaged and you
are very lucky. But IMO you
need to see
Education for what it is and what is isn’t if
you are to become part of a world that
values all women. Education is
great if it is
used to impart knowledge and understanding. If it opens
minds and
develops critical thinking. Developing judgement and Thinking
things through. Too often
however it is used as a very effective and
subtle
tool of social control. Instilling
opinion as fact.
That IMO is an abuse of children’s rights to honest and
objective
teaching. . Impressing
the value of doing
as one is told, without question. Not
making a fuss, accepting authority and conforming. |