Sex Segregation and It’s Implications

Islamic EthicsDr. Marzia Bt. Mustapha

Zayan Yassin Abdul Aziz 0731169Hussain Raafiu 0816161Leela Maryam 0810418

Nawar Selah Nur 0192865

Contents

Introduction Definition Case Studies Causes Implications and Effects Ethical Arguments Conclusion

Introduction

When God decided to create a creature, He had intended so that

it would come in pairs so that they may complement each other.

The beauty of dual creations that is unique on its own yet

undeniably irrelevant with the absence of the other reflects that not

only did God wants to create man and women out of independent

distinctions but so that they could only live together as one. This

notion is the root of how the intricate design of the two human

sexes shaped a social relationship that has been around since the

dawn of creation of men itself.

The two advocates their life differently and it is precisely why

there are biological and psychological as well as spiritual differences

between man and women. These differences are so overwhelmingly

powerful in their own influences that they each create an invisible

form of barrier so that there are none of the influence would overlap

each other. This is to say that no man aspects a women to grow a

beard just like no woman aspects men to bear a child. So it is

understood through and beginning of time that they both would

respect their differences without assigning a predominant authority

that would threaten each others positions as being the two most

intelligent creatures of God’s creation.

The problem is it isn’t always simply clear like dividing the green

apples and red apples aside in a basket when it comes to man and

women. It is definitely inconveniently impractical when human

population are not as easy as counting the grain of sand in the

desert. Human had developed through time into a more complex

and large society. This complexity had led to the fuse of different

spheres of influences and ideologies of man about how society

should work. Unfortunately, the word ‘man’ therefore sticks quite

permanently as the prevalent species that would later decide on

how the world works. This is why, from the earliest of the

civilizations, thinkers and rulers were accredited to man and the

social significance of women were subject to depletion through

time. From being the greatest partner to an individual organism of

the world ( as Eve to Adam ), to a mere subject of man’s dismays,

women’s role in the society had been radically dismantled and her

importance were reduced to dusts. This is a form of sex segregation

of the earliest forms and definitely not to be mistaken to have the

similarities of the sex segregation as imposed to be discussed in

this assignment.

The sex segregation of the earlier times of man’s dominance was

a product of men’s sets of thoughts and ethics that would form the

fundamental basis of social rulings. The segregation was mentally

architected by man to fulfill their needs over power and not by

biological laws and Divine guidance from God. It is not until the time

of the arrival of Islam did this idea becomes irrelevant so as to

compare man’s law to that of God’s law who is all Knowing of His

own Creations. Islam meant here were accredited to the teachings

of all the prophets of mankind through time who had continually

and consistently revolted against the oppressions of sexes that

were practiced unjustly through vile kings and promiscuous

societies.

This leads to the modern implication of gender segregation when

Religion as well as civic societal conduct ( which would have

originally formed from ideas brought by the virtues laid by

religions ) that it would bring more meaning and justice towards the

separation of both man and woman. It is only then that the modern

contemporary society would acknowledge the importance of sex

segregation in some if not all aspect of life without advocating too

much into feminism or social constructivism. Although, the topic of

feminism would be lightly touched in this assignment, it did not

though meant to see the sex segregation as solely beneficial to the

female gender but it also has to some extend beneficial to man as

well as we would later see. Thus, it is important for us to focus on

the application of the sex segregation on society from such as the

perspective of public services usage as well as workplace because

these are the places where both sexes greatly use for productivity

of a society.

Definition

The word sex here implies the attributes of men and women

created by their biological characteristics. Whereas the second term,

segregation means the action or state of setting someone or

something apart from other people or things or being set apart.

Though the term segregation may have been commonly used in the

context of racism in the early 1950’s, the word itself should not be

seen as a negative connotation as it is as act of merely dividing two

entities apart. The question here is the moral behind which the act of

segregation has its implications whether it constitutes to the act of

discrimination or simply separation.

Thus it is important to identify the meaning and the idea brought

by the term sex segregation. When the two words met, it brings in a

whole different meaning. Sex segregation therefore is the act of setting

man and women apart specifically in a given space and time where the

two sexes are present. It is also the question of women’s and men’s

equal access to opportunity and equal position in society. 1Therefore,

in this assignment, not only are we going to project how sex

segregation had been beneficial to the society both men and women,

but how it has been existing in the teaching of Islam towards mankind.

We are going to see how a modern culture of the non-Muslim who

boasts on carrying the principles of liberalism could not deny how sex

segregation could have a better and productive effect to the society.

Case Study

The concept of sex segregation can be said that it is universally

understood by all kinds of societies, cultures and countries. To some

extend, even the most liberal societies of the west had adopted the

concept of sex segregation either at the institutional level or the public

1 Judith Worell, Encyclopedia of Women And Gender, Elsevier, 2001: Pg 983

services sector. Some have found that sex segregation could be

rationally explained, implemented and modified to adapt to a certain

society much easier than another society relatively. This is because

some societies have a cultural background that had already shown

traits of sex segregation thus easily accepted as part of a cultural

norm. Whilst other societies which have a rather radical more extrovert

culture may see this as a breach of human rights or they may simply

accept it as a civilized notion ( product of constructivism idea ) as part

of a societal development for the better.

Therefore, it is vital that we would compare at least two

relatively different sets of societies so that the factor of acceptance of

the sex segregation could be understood and thoroughly explained.

Thus, in this section of case study, we are going to compare the

Japanese culture which was notable for the country’s technological

advancement with a majority of non-Muslim population to the Arab

culture who would represent a rather rigid society bound the the laws

of Syariah with the majority of Muslim population.

JapanOne must understand the cultural background of the Japanese

society so that the concept may fit in easily in the context of the

society. The Japanese society in the earlier times were patriarchy in

nature, where men found their dominance over economic, political and

domestic realms. Even so, women were not treated unequally for they

have many services and activities that catered to them. This was

indeed the times when Geishas roamed the streets of Japan in the 19th

century. It was seen as the first major occupational sex segregation

where astounding amount of economic productions were seen

distinctively divided between the two sexes. When industrialization

crashed on Japanese soil, most factories were dedicated to the heavy

industry such as car production, tin mining and the such. Women and

men were not expected to work in the same place let alone the same

industry because of the difference of labour force needed. Whilst the

heavy industry needed more men to maneuver such job that would

require more force, the agricultural and textile industries were left to

the women population. Yet in Japan it is generally believed that women

could not possibly take on heavy physical jobs, and this bias is used as

an obstacle in the employment of women. Both factors impede equal

opportunities and create job segregation in Japan.2

This pattern may have been similar in application to other

industrialized countries of the time, but Japan had significantly

distribute the labour force exclusively to the women and man. This

segregation led to a bigger movement and influenced how the society

would work, and many new customs were picked up and labeled as

Japanese.

The Japanese employment model is based on precisely this

division of labor. Indeed, occupational sex segregation is co-dependent

with the Japanese model. While men are generally trained for a

broader range of skills, women do mostly auxiliary work. Men generally

commit themselves fully to the firm, while women are usually expected

to make primary their domestic roles as “housewives.” Women were

employed in the same jobs as those offered to men, but companies

made special accommodations for women in terms of work schedule,

job training, and promotion. New work shifts without night duty were

created and reserved for women, as it was thought that the rate of 2 Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. 2002. Tairyoku Undo Nouryoku Chosa [Survey on physical strength and capabilities]. Tokyo: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

female employees was limited to approximately 10%. Women’s job

duties were very restricted: their job training and skills were limited

and new women employees had little experience in related fields.3

Man and women are no longer seen to have shared recreational

activities since their colleagues and workmates are of the same sex.

Many societal clubs and meeting place of the specific sex were rapidly

sprouting that would contribute to the after working hours. Men would

not mingle in a women dominated areas and vice versa, thus

automatically creating an invisible sex segregation barrier. Except for

the vice of the female Geishas, which work revolves around serving

working men after working hours as entertainers and waitress as such,

a normal Japanese women would not have thought of engaging such

jobs. Moreover, this leads to the seclusion of the women society from

men that would be the main factor of Japanese introvertish culture.

Even so, the sex segregation was not seen as oppressive idea

that would undermine the women nor man population. Both man and

women have mutual understanding that they should not get involve in

each other’s work because it may lead to a distractive and insecure

working environment. Another factor is also the Japanese concern in

productivity, where it should be maximize at all times thus if sex

segregation would lead to more productive and beneficial to the

institution therefore it should be implemented at all time.

It was later seen beneficial too for the Government to impose sex

segregations towards the conduct of public services and educational

institution. One fine example is the sex segregation in public

3 Ministry of Labour. 1998. Josei Koyo Kanri Kihon Chosa [Basic survey on women’s employment management]. Tokyo: Ministry of Labour.

transportation system .In such bustling cities like Tokyo, working hours

especially, millions of workers would have to go through the public

transportation in order to go to work. Therefore both sexes would have

to mix up together and rush towards their work places in time

( keeping in mind that Japanese people are very punctual especially

when it comes to job related activities ). This would lead to

unnecessary intermingling and touching of the different sex. This idea

was not in favour by the woman population relatively more compared

to the men population mainly because the sex offenders are of the

men population. Thus it was inevitable for the Government to force the

railway company to supply sufficient amount of carriages that are

dedicated for the women. This was one of the rather concrete and

physical form of sex segregation practiced by the Japanese as a tool of

creating a smoother society yet respecting both sexes accordingly.

Arab WorldWomen have faced a lot of problems when it comes to work

environment. Especially in the Arab countries the women undergo a lot

of problems. A research done in 1970 on women showed that a lot of

work done by women is hidden or these women are “invisible”. Even

though, if they do the similar work that men do or they put the same

effort or more their work are not counted. This is because, they may be

helping in a domestic family business or farming in agricultural fields of

their own. So their work is not recognized in the society.

The survey’s conveyed to see the participation of women in 1990

among 7 Arab countries showed that below 10 percent of the labor

force is occupied by women. More than two-thirds of Arab states

reports participation of women in the work force in their countries is

less than 20 percent.

Arab women are facing greater cultural or social constraints as

they seek to enter in to the modern workforce. The Arab world gives a

great priority to their cultural identity, and therefore the role of women

in the family is preserving this heritage. Furthermore, when it comes

to women and works most of the Arabs refers to the Islamic identity of

them. There are people from various ethnic backgrounds and religious

groups who resist the process of modernization.

More than any other part of the world, the Arab World gives more

significance to preserving its cultural identity and the role of women in

continuing this heritage. As the Economic and Social Commission for

Western Asia (ESCWA) report on Women in Nairobi suggests the

strategy for Arab Women in Western Asia is based heavily on the

heritage of the Arab-Islamic civilization and the spiritual aspects and

on man’s free though responsible role as ordained by God.

Although the majority place their belief in a shared ethnicity, the

presence of few but long-lasting other ethnic and religious minorities in

the Arab World has added to the difficulty in defining what constitutes

Arabness.

Post-independent efforts to define Arab identities that would

include all the different groups have mainly been a result of

dictatorships and weak economic policies. However these same state

systems have been endangered by Islamist forces trying to stamp their

own definitions of identity.

The effects are perhaps most visible in Algeria, where Islamists

and non-Islamists have been carrying out attacks on women based on

their dress code. Patriarchy has been another factor in defining Islamic

law (shari’a) in strict forms that limit the role of women.

The family and community are held as the cornerstone of construction

of identities. Family is considered the basic unit of community and

women the basic foundation of the family. In addition to emotional

support, the family also provides material support that can or never

will be replaced by state institutions.

The Arabs gain a lot of criticisms from the various foreign

agencies like UN and other authorities and these criticisms are

reflected in their lives. The people of the whole Arab world believe that

there is a need for social change and feel threatened by it. For

example Muammar Qaddafi of Libya promoted education and

employment for women to use them in their workforce. However, when

Qaddafi spoke at a conference on Arab and African family in Benghazi

in 1990, he focused most part of his speech on the role of mothers and

those family problems in the West. He assaulted the day-care centers

and asked the Libyans to protest against day-care centers. However,

as fundamentals of modern societies there are Libyan women who use

these facilities.

Socio-cultural factors like heritage, identity, religion, patriarchy

the family and community and women’s central role within the family

are the main factors which affect the entrance of Arab women in to the

modern workforce. However, it has been shown from an examination

these factors do not affect that much when the family and society

thinks that there is a need for women to work.

Previously, the work was done at home and now the Arab

economy has shifted to a situation where they need skills and labor in

the marketplace. This made both men and women from the rural areas

to move urban areas to seek work outside the home or neighborhood.

Furthermore, due to the rapid increase in population and urbanization,

government has faced difficulties in providing health, education and

welfare services. The modernization of the economy has weakened the

traditional productivity of women when the subsistence agriculture

gives way to cash. The reports has said that the imports of food from

other countries have tripled over the past decade .The per capita food

imports have rise from $100 to $300 annually and instead of importing

the foods they should have invested in their land which will provide the

income for those women who were previously working in the field of

agriculture.

The few number of women’s participation of work is not only due

to the socio-cultural factors, but it is also due to the lack of the

opportunities for women in these areas. In 1970 Jordon, made

considerable investment on the employment and education of women.

When the country faced a shortage of laborers the women were used

and the government promoted the participation of women in the

modern workforce by conducting seminars and legislation.

Although there is a considerable investment in education the

women’s participation in labor force is low in the Arab Gulf states. This

is because the need for the women to work is at the family level but

still this is not pushing it as it does in other countries. The government

uses the wealth from the oil to import foreign labor.

Although, the education of women have been allowed and

promoted in these countries there is a problem facing by both the

women and men which is that the content of education is often

unrelated to the needs of the labor market. As a result many of the

families in the rural areas do not want their children to go to schools

where they will lose the useful skills like agriculture. The schools

furthermore, foster dismissive attitudes toward manual labor which has

worsened the productivity problems in the region.

A survey conducted among 119 Syrian women who were working

in the public sector by Anton Rameh showed that the public sector

offers the most trouble free and respected employment for the Arab

women. 45 percent of married women and 42 percent of single women

were ready to welcome low-priced restaurants and ready-made foods

due to the double work load and tiredness. 81 percent of married

women and 88 percent of married women had the problem with the

male members of the family because they do not help them with the

household tasks. Large number of women believed that the childcare

condition as insufficient. As 51 percent of the women had to leave their

children with the relatives and 18 percent leave their kids at nurseries

and there was other 18 percent of women had no fixed place to keep

their children. However, 75 percent of the women support women’s

work outside the house.

Causes

Feminism

According to dictionary.com feminism is the doctrine advocating social,

political, and all other rights of women equal to those of men. Feminist

movement is also known as the drive for Women’s Liberation.

Feminism is an unnatural, artificial and abnormal product of

contemporary social disintegration, which in turn is the inevitable

result of the rejection of all transcendental, absolute moral and

spiritual values.

Western perspective

Marry Wollstonecraft is perhaps the first known feminist in

history In her A Vindication of the Rights of Women (1792) she

challenged the conventions of the day that the sole purposes of

women were to bear and raise children and to please men. She was

highly critical of the practice of socio-economic subordination of

women in society. She demanded equal rights for women in

education, employment and in administration.4

In the writing of Harriet Taylor, she argued strongly in favour

of married women having a life and career of their own. She

contended that it would be preferable “if women both earned and

had a right to possess, a part of their income of their family.”5 She

even proposed once women were given full civil and political rights,

there would be no necessity of marriage.

Today’s Feminists are implacably opposed to any social roles

being determined by sex. They deny that there is any inherent

biological distinction between men and women on the basis of sex

which determines that the wife should be the housewife and mother

and the husband the breadwinner and authoritarian head of the

family. They demand the abolition of institutional marriage. They

4 Palo Alto freeman, edited. Women-A feminist Perspective, (California: Mayfield Publishing Co., 1984)5 Ibid. p.41

insist that all women should be given the right to complete control

over their reproductive lives. They are demanding that all

restrictions must be lifted from laws governing contraception so

that devices can be publicly advertised and available over the

druggist counter to any women regardless of her age and marital

status and purchasable without a doctor’s prescription. All laws

restricting abortion should be removed and that women have a

legal right to abortion at any stage of pregnancy.

In the largest most enthusiastic Feminist demonstration ever held,

on August 26, 1970, hundreds of women marched down Fifth Avenue,

New York City carrying placards which read:

HOUSEWIVES ARE UNPAID SLAVES! STATE PAY FOR

HOUSEWORK! OPPRESSED WOMEN! DON’T COOK DINNER! STARVE

YOUR HUSBAND TONIGHT! END HUMAN SACRIFICE! DON’T GET

MARRIED! WASHING DIAPERS IS NOT FULFILLING! LEGALISE

ABORTION! DEPENDENCY IS NOT HEALTHY STATE OF BEING!6

Never has moral corruption and social self-indulgence

threatened mankind on such a universal scale as is this case now.

The adoption of feminist ideals degrades humans lower than the

animals. For animals live by their instincts and cannot do anything

opposed to their nature. Among animals, homosexuality is

unknown. The male is only attracted to the female of its own

species. Among animals, the maternal relationship is completely

severed as soon as the young are able to look after themselves.

There is no such thing as modesty, chastity, marriage or filial ties

among beasts but there is these concept for human beings. They

are found in every culture at every stage of civilization and history.

But the feminists wish to abolish these very characteristics, which

6 http://www.islam101.com/women/jameelah.htm

make man human and undermine the foundation of all his

relationships and social ties.

Islamic perspective

In Muslim countries, fortunately, the Feminist movement has not

yet touched such extremes as the westerns but there is no doubt that

in a small significant segment of Muslim society today, there is a revolt

of women against traditional Islamic society.

From the Islamic point of view, the question of the equality of

men and women is meaningless. It is like discussing the equality of a

rose and a jasmine. Each has its own perfume, colour, shape and

beauty. Men and women are created as equal human beings though

obviously not identical. In Quran it is repeated several times that men

and women are created as companions to complement and comfort

each other. Each has certain duties and functions in accordance with

his or her nature and constitution.

Islam specifies a differentiation of male and female role and

responsibilities in society. As Islam intends to maintain the role of

providing financial support, of success in career, and decision making

and those dealing with domestic matters, with childcare, aesthetic and

psychological refreshment, social interrelationships, valued equally

deserving of respect and that when accompanied by the equity

demanded by the religion, division of labour along sex lines is

beneficial to all the members of society.

The Islamic school of thought argues that women could benefit by

returning to the original source of Islam. Haleh Afshar, a prominent

Muslim feminist summarized their arguments in the following ways;

“Islamic dictum bestows complementarities of women, as a human

beings, as partners to men and as mothers and daughters. They argue

that Islam respects for women and offers them opportunities to be

learned, educated and trained, while at the same time providing an

honoured space for them to become mothers, wives, and homemakers.

They argue that unlike capitalism, and much of feminist discourse,

Islam recognises the importance of women’s life cycle: they have been

given different roles and responsibilities at different times of their lives

and at each ad every stage they are honoured and respected for that

which they do. They argued that Islam at its inception has provided

them with exemplary female role models and has delineated a path

that can be honourably followed at each stage. For all Muslims, Khadija

is a powerful representative of independence as well as being a

supportive wife. Muhammad’s daughter Fatima, for the Shiias in

particular, provides an idealised and idolised role model as a daughter

to the Prophet (s.a.w) and wife to the imam, Ali. The Sunnis admire

Aishah for her powerful intellect as well as her political leadership.

Thus, the revivalists contend that Muslim women have no need of

western examples, which they wish to pursue.”7

In the Quran, no difference whatever is made between the sexes in

relation to God. In Surah Al Nahl verse 97, Allah said, “Whoever works

righteousness, man or woman, and has Faith, verily, to him will We

give a new Life, a life that is good and pure and We will bestow on such

their reward according to the best of their actions.”8 Every Muslim

individual, whether male or female, retains a separate identity frem

cradle to grave.

7 Haleh Afshar, ed. Women and Politics in the Third World ( London: Routledge, 1998)

8 http://www.muslimaccess.com/quraan/arabic/016.asp

However, the Muslim societies do not fulfil the Islamic ideals and

traditions laid down in the Quran and reinforced by the examples and

directives of the prophet Muhammad (s.a.w). Therefore, if Muslim

women ever experience discrimination, the blame should not be on

Islam, but on the un-Islamic nature of Muslim societies and the failure

of Muslims to fulfil its directives.

Sex Segregation in Islam

Sex segregation is the separation of people according to their gender.

Islam discourages social interaction between men and women when

they are alone.

According to Shariah, to look, speak, listen, etc. to any ghayr

mahram (women you are not related to or married to) except at the

time of extreme necessity is haraam and impermissible."

The Quranic verse (24:30-31) Allah said about the interaction of

men and women in the social context include:

"Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and to be mindful of

their chastity: this will be most conducive to their purity - (and,) verily,

God is aware of all that they do. And tell the believing women to lower

their gaze and to be mindful of their chastity, and not to display their

charms (in public) beyond what may (decently) be apparent thereof;

hence let them draw their head-coverings over their bosoms."

And in verse (33:59), Allah said:

"O Prophet! Tell thy wives and thy daughters, as well as all (other)

believing women, that they should draw over themselves some of their

outer garments (when in public): this will be more conducive to their

being recognized (as decent women) and not annoyed.”

Implicit in these verses is the expectation that men and women

will be interacting. Muslims are instructed to do so in such a way as to

focus on attributes other than the physical, namely the spiritual and

intellectual. This is shown in the example of Khadhija, who employed

Muhammad and met with him to conduct trade before they were

married, and in the example set by the other wives of Muhammad who

taught and counselled the men and women of Medina.

The emphasis in the Quran and the Sunnah is thus not on total

segregation but on minimizing factors that promote physical

attractiveness or may lead to the unlawful. Thus Islam requires

believers to:

1. Treat one another with respect at all times in all situations.

2. Behave modestly.

3. Avoid situations of seclusion (khalwa).

4. Dress modestly (by covering ones body).9

Implication of gender separation

In the interest of modesty, public toilets, public showers, public

saunas, swimming pools, gymnasiums, dormitories, changing rooms,

prisons and other areas are usually sex segregated. In some countries,

trains have designated women-only passenger cars.

When Public toilets and public showers are sex segregated it

helps to avoid stalkers from attacking their targets.

Great Gallant (mostly verbal harassment involves excessive

compliments and personal comments that focus on appearance

and gender) can be kept away from their targets by segregating

gender in public saunas, swimming pools and gymnasiums.

9 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_segregation_in_Islam

By not working late at office with opposite sex would reduce the

risk of being harassed by a power player or third party sexual

harassment.

One-of-the-Gang (harassment occurs when groups of men or

women embarrass others with lewd comments, physical

evaluations, or other unwanted sexual attention) this kind of

harassment can be avoided by separating the genders in

dormitories, prisons and other areas.

There are women taxi drivers who take female passengers to the

passenger’s wanted destination, by boarding such taxis female

passengers will feel safe from being harassed, kidnapped and

robbed.

Sex segregation is not to discriminate sexes, but to reduce crimes,

such as sexual harassment, robbery and murders. Islam encourages

separation of people according to gender to avoid making of sins. The

separation is mostly to protect females from being victimized by the

male. Not to make women feel that male is superior to them. This is in

order to save both the sexes from the hell fire.

Qur'an considers extramarital sex as one of the major sins besides

polytheism and murder:

“And they who do not call upon another god with Allah and do

not slay the soul, which Allah has forbidden except in the requirements

of justice, and (who) do not commit fornication and he who does this

shall find a requital of sin. The punishment shall be doubled to him on

the day of resurrection, and he shall abide therein in abasement.”

(Verse 25:68) 10

10 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zina

Conclusion

In the end, separation between genders brings many benefits for

scocitiy as well as individuals. Separation have helped to control

human desires along with maintaining level of modesty amongst the

implemeting scociety. Many have considered it to be (Unessecary) but

deemed to change that view after the outcomes which is present

nowadays among them. Illegitimate children issue, HIV, spread of

harrassment and rape have condemned those societies until they have

began to implemetnt seperation paritaly. What is ironic is that we, as

Muslims, have applied seperation in many countries but we could not

prevent feminist movments, born from within and the spread of sin.

Maybe it is because we have went extreme? It must be for that reason.

As you can see, many seggregated scocieties have went overboard by

forcing what is not from Islam into a wajib (Obligatory), custom and

habits have influenced many Imams decisions to implement them as

part of Islam, of course, I don't agree with that. If we would return back

to the true teachings of Islam, we would be be off fine.