News

On the 6th of December, an article by the BBC titled, "Women MP's ‘face sexist gestures' in the Commons" reported on claims made by a UK MP Sarah Champion that male parliamentarians often made obscene hand gestures and degrading taunts towards opposition female MP's during their speeches in parliamentary debates in order to belittle and ridicule their contribution to discussions. She said that there was an "insidious" sexist culture in the Commons, and that, "It's so part of the culture there, it's overlooked rather than ignored...". This January, a Guardian article also spoke about the ‘misogynistic-vitriol' from some male politicians against their female colleagues, while in 2004 a study by London's Birbeck College found "shocking" levels of sexist abuse involving male MP's of all parties. In November, the Guardian published another piece written by a female journalist under the title, "Women MP's must man-up" which suggested that a number of female parliamentarians in the UK planned to stand down from their posts due to the unbearable "macho-posturing in parliament". It mentioned complaints from another female MP that some women hardly spoke in the Commons for fear of being ridiculed by men for their high-pitched voices. The writer suggested that, "the problem is not that male politicians can be offensive but that today's female politicians don't seem to know how to handle them."

Comment

The UK is by no means unique in the sexist culture that continues to plague the political circles of Western secular states. In France, Italy, and Australia, a number of female politicians have condemned the ingrained and widespread misogynistic behaviour of male MP's in their parliament. Comments from former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard about the relentless sexist attacks that plagued her leadership received much media coverage. All this demonstrates that a deep-seated misogyny still lies within the political institutions of Western secular states despite two centuries of struggle for gender equality within their societies. The question is why.

Well feminists failed to recognise that the primary step in driving sexism out of societies is not through ensuring that men and women have exactly the same rights and roles within life but the view of respect and equal worth that is generated towards women within a state. This view has been eroded by values that emanate from the capitalist system and secular belief. For example, under liberal sexual and economic freedoms, businesses and the entertainment and pornography industries have been permitted for the sake of profit to present the woman as an object to play to the desires of men. Inevitably this has not only devalued the worth of women in the eyes of many men, including a significant number who sit in parliaments but also undermined attempts to remove outdated traditional views from societies that view women as lower than men. In addition, the capitalist mentality that encourages individuals to secure their interests anyhow, anyway, and at any cost has clearly led to some politicians degrading women just to win debates. Furthermore, gender equality in reality performed a disservice to women for it created an environment where women were expected to be like men to get ahead or to be viewed as a success. Inability to match up to this ‘male gold standard' often left them discriminated against in the workplace, for example due to pregnancy, or to be ridiculed in parliaments due to the tone of their voice!

The question that surely needs to be raised is this: How can women have trust in this secular political system to effectively address their needs, secure their dignity and resolve problems such as prejudice, discrimination, and abuse against women and their rights, when those legislating the laws of their state and making daily decisions affecting their lives carry such backward, disrespectful, and derogatory perceptions of women and are even willing to openly treat them accordingly? Supporters of democracy often argue that representation in parliaments should be a mirror of society. If so, then what exactly are many legislative assemblies in secular states reflecting onto the lives of the women of that society? If those governing this secular system have failed to root out this misogynistic culture from the highest ruling bodies in their lands, then what hope do they have of removing it from their societies?

Furthermore, while the implementation of the Shariah which emanates from the Commands of the Creator is often accused of creating a patriarchal society, what can be more patriarchal than male-dominated parliaments, housing politicians who are willing to publically express and exhibit demeaning behaviour towards women dictating to women how they should and should not live their lives?
Despite Islam guaranteeing women the same political, economic, educational, and legal rights of citizenship as men 1400 years ago, some secularists still chide Islam for its rejection of the Western-inspired concept of gender equality, reflected in its prescribing of different roles and rights of men and women in its social and family laws. However, it is Islam's view of the woman as having the same worth as the man coupled with laws that prohibit outright the devaluing of her dignity that is seen as priceless, that ensures that she is treated with respect and that her access to her God-given rights, including to be able to express her political opinions without ridicule are preserved. Furthermore, Islam's appreciation rather than disdain for gender differences means that it does not expect women to be like men to get ahead in life, rather it celebrates their unique qualities and nature as women. Additionally, the fact that legislation under the Islamic Khilafah "Caliphate" system emanates from the Creator, the All-Aware, the All-Knowledgeable, provides women effective solutions to their problems rather than delivering defective ones that stem from the weak minds of human beings. It also protects them from being subject to discriminatory laws legislated from those who may hold negative views towards women.

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Dr. Nazreen Nawaz
Member of the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir